You all remember that one kid in middle school? You know, the one that seemed like he just owned a bunch of cargo shorts and no regular pants. He didn’t necessarily know what STDs were, but the only “bad” sexual word that he knew was herpes. So he really liked talking about it. Like, a lot. Herpes can be SO fun to randomly whisper in the middle of a silent classroom… When you’re a twelve-year-old boy.
Continue Reading
Herpes vs. HPV: What’s the Difference?
We’ve noticed here at STDCheck.com that there is some confusion surrounding HPV (Human PapillomaVirus) and herpes. Considering the similarities between the two STDs, this is completely understandable. Both cause unsightly skin conditions, are incurable and are by far, the most common STDs in the U.S. today.
Continue Reading
Can You Get Herpes on Your Breast?
When people think of herpes, they often think of cold sores or blisters and lesions in the genital area, but herpes can manifest on other parts of the body, including the breasts.
Continue Reading
My Partner Gave Me Herpes – Did They Cheat?
We see questions like, "My husband/wife gave me herpes. Did he/she cheat?" or "How did I get herpes in a monogamous relationship?" all the time. It has been such a frequently and consistently asked question that we decided to dive into it in a blog post.
The quickest answer to whether or not your partner cheated on you and gave you herpes is - Maybe, but probably not. We'll explain below, but first you need to understand what herpes is.
Continue Reading
The Viral STDs: HIV, Hepatitis, HPV, and Herpes
All sexually transmitted diseases can lead to serious health risks if left untreated, but typically the more worrisome STDs are caused by viruses. Not to downplay how dangerous STDs can be, but the “4 H’s” are the sexually transmitted diseases that typically warrant the most fear and dread.
The Four H’s are all viral STDs: Herpes, Human papillomavirus (HPV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Hepatitis C.
Continue Reading
Everything About Herpes 1 & 2 and HSV Testing
HSV-1 & HSV-2 Explained: Oral and Genital Herpes
Herpes is virus with multiple strains; two strains, HSV-1 and HSV-2, cause oral and genital herpes. Other common diseases caused by various herpes strains include chicken pox or shingles (caused by herpes zoster virus) and Kaposi’s sarcoma (caused by herpes virus 8). Herpes viruses infect the skin and/or mucous membranes. The origin for the name herpes is derived from a Greek word meaning to crawl or to creep, which describes the nature of the virus-- Once the virus infects a cell, it “crawls or creeps” along nerve pathways until reaching
Continue Reading
Everything About HPV and Testing
HPV and Human Papillomavirus Testing
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and there are more than 100 strains of the virus. Some strains of HPV go unnoticed and seem to cause no symptoms at all, while others can cause genital warts or various cancers.
HPV is so common that nearly all sexually active individuals (both men and women) will get a strain of the virus at some point in their lives. According to the CDC, approximately 79 million people in the United States have HPV, and an estimated 14 million American contract it each year.
The
Continue Reading
Getting Genital Herpes from Oral Herpes & Vice Versa
Both oral herpes (usually contracted from Herpes Simplex Virus I/HSV-1) and genital herpes (usually contracted from Herpes Simplex Virus II/HSV-2) are incurable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Oral herpes is very common in the United States, --roughly 80 percent of the population has the virus-- but many people do not know that they can pass it on to their partners as genital herpes.
Continue Reading