According to a WHO study, two-thirds of earth’s population under 50 lives with HSV1. When symptoms of HSV1 manifest orally, they are commonly referred to as cold sores—but HSV1 can also cause genital herpes through oral sex. Although HSV2 is the more demonized type, they are genetically similar, and up to 40 percent of cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV1. The WHO’s data shows that 3.7 billion people have HSV1 and an additional 417 million people have HSV2. Currently, however, the CDC does not recommend routine screening for herpes in patients without symptoms since the infection is so common. The CDC states that because “the diagnosis may have adverse psychological effects for some people, widespread testing for HSV is not currently recommended.“ I believe this attitude contributes to the infection’s stigmatization. In order to determine if someone without symptoms has herpes, you have to do a blood test, and the blood test will say whether or not you’re positive for HSV1 or HSV2. But the test doesn’t tell you where the infection is located. So, folx go into a tail-spin if they test positive and don’t know if they have oral or genital herpes. The reality is, however, that they’re both equally simple to manage. Many people are asymptomatic - they’re carrying around the virus and are still able to transmit it, yet, they don’t know that they have it, they don’t know where they have it, they don’t know how they’re transmitting it, and they’re not getting tested. It’s a quadruple whammy. Knowledge is power, and we’re doing folks a disservice by not providing the information they need to make decisions and be mindful and thoughtful with their partners. Once people realize the reality behind how many people actually have herpes, it will become a much more normalized conversation. #breakthestigma #hsv2 #hsv1 #herpes #sexualhealth #herpesawareness #livingwithherpes #sexuallyhealthy #sexualeducation #sexeducator #std #herpessupport #stigmafree #lifewithherpes #comprehensivesexed #sexedforall #ihaveherpesand #fuckthestigma #fightthestigma #herpesinformation #healthywithherpes #peoplewithherpes #lifewithherpes #ownyourstigma https://www.instagram.com/p/B2O0layHPzl/?igshid=jms53hi4tdaf
