Question:  I slept with a girl last night and now I am scared she gave me herpes.  How long does herpes take to appear if I got it?  ~ Shawn Dallas, TX

Answer:  It takes approximately twenty days for herpes to show symptoms. 

It is my opinion that people are greatly misinformed when it comes to herpes.  First, the first outbreak will be the worst so do not let fear, depression and anger slip in your mind when you first find out that you have genital herpes.  Secondly, many people never have another outbreak.  Their immune system kicked in and repressed the virus.  Other people will have the occasional outbreak when their immune system is low enough for the herpes virus to become active.

Living with herpes is not the end of the world.  I have seen some statistics where majority of sexually active adults live with herpes.  And once again, do not let fear, depression or anger take root.  It is very possible that the person that gave you herpes had no clue they had herpes.  Some individuals are carriers and never had an initial outbreak.  This is also true with herpes simplex I.  I have never had a cold sore in my life, but a herpes test showed that I have herpes simplex I.

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Question:  I have a wild past, but that was a long time ago (3yrs).  I have never had an HIV test.  Is it possible that I have had HIV all this time without symptoms and did not no it?  ~ Crystal  Addison, TX

Answer:  Yes.  HIV is unlike any other virus.  HIV is not completely understood either.  It may remain undetectable for years.  There are even cases where HIV infection occurred; however, HIV remains undetectable in the blood.  This theory says that there are certain individuals who are actually immune to the HIV virus. 

If I was you, I definitely would not bet that I was one of those lucky individuals who benefit from this theory.  And I stress that this is only a theory and very little science has been performed to strengthen this theory. 

A HIV is a very inexpensive test and results are usually ready within 24hrs.  Keep in mind that you will have to pick up your HIV test results in person.  Most states require this step.

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Question: I have a couple red bumps on my penis and my first thoughts are herpes. Is there any reason other than an STD (i.e. Herpes) for red bumps on my penis? The appeared overnight. If this is herpes then I feel my life is over. ~ Scared in Plano.

Answer: First I would like to say don’t over react. I would also suggest that you do not self-diagnose, but I realize that realistically that probably isn’t possible.

Red bumps can appear on the penis for many reasons. Even if you have not shaved or trimmed your genitals recently it is possible that the bumps are merely ingrown hairs.

Another possible explanation for red bumps are irritated or red moles. I know you said they appeared overnight, but many times I see people that get a negative herpes test and suddenly question whether the red bump(s) have been there all along.

If the red bumps are a result of herpes then you can swing down to your local lab testing facility and get a herpes test for under a $100 bucks (no insurance). Keep in mind there are two types of herpes, and if you have ever had a cold sore you can bet you will test possible for herpes simplex I. It is not life threatening and a very large percentage of the US population carry this virus without ever have symptoms.

herpes · red bumps · sexually transmitted disease · STD

Question:  I am fifteen and I want to know if it is possible for me to have an STD without having sex?  ~ Jo Anne ~ Frisco, TX.

Answer:  Good question Jo Anne.  It is very common for someone your age to worry about contracting a sexually transmitted disease.  For the first time in your life you are probably being solicited for sex.  Parents, media, and teachers are bombarding you with the dangers of pre-marital sex.  With so much information being thrown at you it is no wonder people your age are confused about sex and STDs. 

To answer your question, yes.  However, it is extremely unlikely.  Let me explain.  It is possible to get herpers, chlamydia and other STDs at birth, but you would know if this occurred.  Or, the STD you contracted was curable such as chlamydia.  The only other way you could get an STD without sex is through direct physical (gentital) contact with someone that has an STD. 

Although you may hear someone has a friend or a cousin that got an STD without sexual contact, I am here to tell you that in all my years of STD testing I have yet to come across one person where this was the case.  Hope my words helped.

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Question:  My friend and I shared a towel to dry off.  I was spending the night at her house and was too shy to ask for my own towel.  She has genital warts.  Can I now have genital warts? ~ Ashley in Dallas

Answer:  It is not possible to contract an STD from sharing a wet towel under most all circumstances.  The only reason I did not say 100%, unequivical “NO” is due to those people whose idea of sharing a towel includes having some form of foreplay.  It is definitely possible to get a sexually transmitted disease from foreplay.  Genital warts is transmittable from non-penetration foreplay. 

There are over 25 known forms of genital warts, and all of them are very easily contracted through direct physical contact of the genitals.  This does not mean if someone touches their genitals then shakes hands then you touch your genitals that you would get genital warts.  The virus does not work that way.  Only the sensitive skin cells around your private parts are suceptible to the gential warts virus. 

It is also important to note that the HPV vaccine does NOT make you immune to all the genital warts variations.  The HPV vaccine only builds immunity to the few most common types of genital warts.

HPV · Share Towel · STD Facts

Question: Can I get herpes from sharing a swimsuit?

Answer: HIGHLY unlikely. Studies show that the sexually transmitted disease known as herpes requires skin to skin contact in order to be contagious. This question is very similar to whether it is possible to get herpes from sitting on a dirty/wet toilet. The answer to this question is also HIGHLY unlikely. The only reason it isn’t a definite NO is due to reports of individuals who acquired herpes but will not admit to recent sexual contact. However, scientific studies have not been able to reproduce herpes transmission through this method in a laboratory.

herpes · STD · std test · swimsuit

We’ve all been there.  Wake up one morning, jump in the shower to wake up, start peeing, look down and see a bump, freckle or red spot.  The thought of possibly having an STD will wake you up way better than a shower ever could.   This article was written to help you determine if you need to get an STD test. 

First, let me state that if you have ever had sex then go get tested.  Why worry?  The cost for a STD test is minimal and if you live in North Dallas you should visit ANY LAB TEST NOW® North Dallas.  They can have you in-and-out within 15 minutes. 

Now to your problem.  If your bump is red then it is probably an ingrown hair.  Even if you don’t trim or shave down there it is possible to irritate a hair follicle.  An ingrown hair has many looks and descriptions so it is pointless to describe them as more than a red bump.  The timing of the appearance of the red bump in relation to sex is also pointless.  Commonly herpes appears 10-20 days after exposure; however, since there are exceptions to every rule you do not want to go by this. 

The difference between herpes and a ingrown hair/pimple is that a herpes bump is a blister.  Eventually the blister should burst.  That being said, if you are like me than you are going to be messing with your red bump(s) incessantly and won’t be able to tell if it was a pimple or blister.

If you have herpes then you can expect the first outbreak to be the worst and many people never have a second outbreak.  Herpes is incurable but medication can reduce/eliminate the symptoms and outbreaks.

If your bump is not red then you can mostly rule out herpes.  If it is an STD then it is probably genital warts.  There is no set description of genital warts.  It comes in such a variety that self diagnosis is near impossible.  Genital warts may go away by its self or may require surgery.

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Dating and having an active social life is hard for those who are infected with herpes because people are so afraid in this day and age that they back off in fear of catching something. This is why anyone who lives with herpes should be forthright and honest with their partners because it’s not fair to them if you’re intimately involved with them and they have no idea you’re infected with a contagious virus. It hurts some people when they’re being pushed away when they have to disclose their status to someone. Some people who are not out here to intentionally infect people are likely to have an active social and dating life. They usually feel comfortable with someone who is also in the same predicament because then they don’t feel like social pariahs when they can be at ease with someone who is also a carrier of herpes. Technology has gotten pretty savvy in terms of having the dating world come to you straight off the screen of a computer and you can look for a date in the privacy and comfort of your own home.

   There are countless websites that are geared towards people who have medical issues to be able to still have a dating life. Two of the most popular is Antopia and Positive Singles which are geared towards people who have HIV, Herpes, and other sexually transmitted diseases since they will likely never get responses from anyone if they joined sites like Match.com and Eharmony.com. It’s a great concept so that people who do have herpes aren’t feeling left out and possibly ostracized for having an STD and it gives them a chance at having normal relationships and marriages like everyone else in the world. It’s not easy to live with an incurable viral infection because it can harbor your social and love life because of the intense fear many people go through dating someone who they learn has a contagious disease or virus. For those who are dealing with and living with herpes can do a search on Google under dating for people with herpes or diseases.

    It’s practical for these sites because it gives those who live with herpes and other diseases like HIV, HPV (human papiloma virus), and AIDS to be able to still enjoy the same things everyone else does which are having an active social, dating, and love life.

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What are genital hepes? They are a sexually transmitted disease, cause by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 or type 2.Most cases are caused by HSV-2. Most people dont have any signs or sypmtoms. When they do occur, they are usually blisters on or around the genital or the rectum. They usually break leaving sores that may take weeks to heal. Normally outbreaks come back but are usually less severe than that of the first outbreak.

Herpes is common, about 45 million people over the age of 12 have the disease. To better understand that number, about 1 in every 5 adults have had this infection.This disease is more common in women than in men. This is thought to be because of the male to female transmission rather than female to male.

You tend to contract herpes from having sex with someone who has the infection. The transmission can happen even if the person doesnt have any signs or know that they have the disease.This disease usually leads to infections of the mouth or lips. These are sometimes referred as fever blisters.

Signs are usually sores that tend to last for a couple of weeks, flu-like symptoms, fever and swollen glands. But most people dont have symptoms or they mistake them for insect bites. People that have herpes usually have 4-5 outbreaks a yr.

Diagnosing herpes can be done by visual inspection if an outbreak is typical or by taking a sample from sores and having it tested. Blood tests can be helpful but are not always clear cut.

There is no cure for herpes but it can be treated.By taking medications, it can limit the number of outbreaks and can also reduce the risk of passing it on to partners.

The only ways to prevet passing on this disease are not havng sex or using condoms. Also by having sex with the same person hwo has been tested and shown not to have the symptoms.Remember just because you arent showing signs of the infection, you can still pass it on. Use of condoms is highly recommended.

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I Am HIV NEGATIVE

I am a twenty for year old homosexual male. I choose to remain anonymous. I was very promiscuous sleeping with any and everyone. I came out of the closet as a homosexual male when I was fifteen. I started going to these underground parties, and raves. I thought my life was perfect. My story starts here.

I was tired of living my life as a secret, I went to my parents and told them I was very interested in men and not women. They accepted me for who I was but that was the least of my worries. All my friends in school knew I was a homosexual and they teased me for it and called me names. But I was proud of who I was and what I loved. I continued to go to school and I graduated from high school and attended college and that is where all the partying started. I met guys who were just like me. We started going to these underground parties and I would meet someone and sleep with them all in the same day. I wouldn’t use protection at all I loved the natural feel of things. Soon me and my friends would go to these underground parties 4 times a week. I would always bring someone back to my dorm room it would be a different guy every time. Eventually my dorm room became inconvenient, my roommate kept complaining of the different men I was bringing in the room he said it was disturbing. After that I searched for me an apt. around my college that meant I had to get a job. My friend and I whom I went to these underground parties with got an apartment together. It was perfect, now I didn’t have to worry about the guys I brought in and out of my room. I have had threesomes with guys and all, I was having a blast. One day I noticed my roommate and how he had lost almost 15 pounds in a period of 9 month, he started getting these skin scars that wouldn’t heal, and he had had a cold for months. I didn’t realize that he had been doing the same thing I was doing, sleeping with several different men, without protection, four times a week. I told him that we needed to go get tested for HIV/AIDS. He agreed and I began looking up places online. I Found the cheapest price at Any Lab Test Now. They charged $49.00 for a HIV test. We both went and we both choose to be anonymous. They Women assured us that it was confidential and results would be back within 24-48 hours. It was a scary 3 days before she called us and told us that our test results were ready to be picked up. I read my results and they were negative and my friend well his came back positive. I am so happy that I noticed a change in my friends health and choose to go get tested. Next time I wont wait till I notice a change in someone else. I slowed down on the parties and raves and I also started using condoms.

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