It's really funny to read alot of the posts in this thread...

You do not have to be dirty or be with someone dirty to get herpes...

100% of the population has herpes already, it is a virus that lives in the spine, chicken pox is a form of herpes.. Cold sores are a form of herpes.. here are a few common possible ways you can get herpes..

1. You kiss a girl with a cold sore. You go down on her, then stick your dick in her.. You run the risk of contracting the virus orally and on your genitals.
2. A girl with a cold sore on her mouth gives you oral sex.. high risk
3. You have a cold sore, you kiss the girl then she gives you oral sex..
4. You have a cold sore on your mouth, while masturbating you spit on your hand for more lubrication and it transfers the virus to your penis.
5 You have a cold sore on your mouth.. You rub your lip without washing your hands then you scratch your genitals..

Just think about the possibilities.. Not everyone is dirty.. Not everyone is 100% safe..

Also if you're born from a woman who has herpes do you automatically have it? If it's in her blood (even if she doesn't have an outbreak, it's in her body forever) and her fluids are passing thru the baby's body during pregnancy, doesn't this mean the kid will have it for certain?

So a cold sore will actually turn into genital herpes if the virus is transfered from the mouth to the penis? It's the same virus? :Oh crap

Mike.. the chances of a newborn contracting the herpes virus during pregnancy is high.. They worry about it if the female is having an actual outbreak near the time of pregnancy with the baby passing through the vagina.. If she has an outbreak from the stress of the pregnancy they will usually deliver the baby via c-section.. Babies born in an outbreak can get herpes all over their bodies and can kill them.. So it's important that they be aware of the risks..

Yep.. they can translate to another spot.. they are two different simplexes of viruses.. but they can go from A to B and B to A...

the only way to be completely safe is to always use a condom and dont mack anyones box or kiss anyone that you have sex with. even with condoms there are some stds that you can catch. cold sores are not herpes. since i was 3 years old i have been getting cold sores. i freaked out when i was in the military and went to get tested for everything. the doctor laughed at me because of my "fever blisters". cold sores are common amongst more than half of the population. there are over 100 stds that you can't even test for. (thanks the military for all this info), when you go overseas they make you take all sorts of disease classes. stds are scary.

Last question - say somebody has herpes or any of the other things mentioned in this thread, but it's not noticeable and they don't have an outbreak. Will all the health tests at the doctor's office catch it anyway so that you know if somebody has something even if it's not showing? I've always assumed it will because they take body fluids and it can't 'hide' in that.

very informative thread heh

:Oh crap that answers my question :helpme

Airek, cold sores are in fact one form of herpes.. so are chicken pox

For all of you who think that cold sores are not a form of herpes..

See the below defenitions..

I. Definition:

Herpes simplex is commonly referred to as cold sores or fever blisters. It is a viral infection of the skin that may occur once or return again and again. This is because when the virus is cleared from the skin by the immune system it hides in the nerves and is never completely removed from the body. Herpes infections are very common. It is estimated that nine out of ten people have been exposed to herpes. Many people are infected and don?t even know it. Unfortunately those who carry herpes can spread the disease without even knowing it.

Herpes simplex begins as a group of small red bumps that blister. Sometimes this is preceded by itching and burning of the area. The blisters begin to dry up after a few days and form a yellow crust. The crust then falls off and the redness slowly goes away. The whole process takes about 10-14 days. Scars rarely form. Some people experience just some itching or burning in the area while most people have no symptoms at all.



II. Causes:

* There are two kinds of herpes virus, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 virus causes 60% of the cold sores so common on the lips and face. The other 40% of cases are caused by type 2. On the genitalia these percentages are reversed, that is 40% of genital herpes cases are caused by type 1 and 60% of cases are caused by type 2.
* Herpes simplex is transmitted by sexual contact, kissing, or other close contact. Family members should not share towels or linen with someone who has an outbreak of herpes on the genitalia or cold sores. Herpes can spread from person to person even when an infected individual has no outbreak or symptoms.
* Once you have herpes simplex type 1, you cannot be reinfected with the type 1 virus. You can however be infected with the type 2 virus.
* Fever, sun exposure and menstruation can act as trigger factors, which cause the virus to travel down the nerves to the skin and cause the outbreak known as herpes or cold sores.
* Herpes simplex is caused by the herpes hominis virus.