Doctor Herpes

Question:

Thanks everyone. I’ll have to look into medscape or pubmed to see more info. I agree that I did have some pretty risky sex in the past and in many cases didn’t use any protection. Through my 39 years, I have gotten alot more std’s than hpv and herpes, but those are the only two I am still left with. Unfortunately, I had quite a few partners, probably more than my mother, brother, aunt, grandparents and my two cousins put together, so now I have to pay for it. As far as alcohol causing risky behavior…I agree with that. I think I agree with the fact that women can be infected more easily, but I am not sure 100%. Angela, you asked where I got the information on hpv being more likely because of smoking. I got it from various sources including a book I had just taken out of the Library near my house called: Everything you need to know about Human Papillomavirus by Elizabeth Carter. I read some of your information on www.yoshi2me.com regarding hpv and other sites including stds for dummies, but I wanted to learn more. I have a couple of books on herpes which include living and loving with herpes; a chronic std, and the truth about herpes. I also read Westover heights and other things. Thanks, Al

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Grant writes: Where do you think women are getting herpes and HPV? From men, of course.  (At least, if you’re heterosexual).  So, that one comment about it being more likely for women than men is kind of bogus, in my opinion. Depends on how you look at it. I agree that women contract herpes mostly from men, no question. But I can also see why women can be more easily infected. I think it’s the way their plumbing is designed as compared to men (but I hope God NEVER changes it). But whatever the reason, the studies that I’ve seen of discordant couples, with results broken down by gender infected, show a higher percentage of women being infected than men over the same time period. In other words, say you have a study of 1000 discordant couples, starting with 500 infected men and 500 infected women. At the end of the study, more women will end up being infected than men. Seems to be a fairly consistent result study after study. Alcohol may be a contributing factor because when you’re drunk, you’re less likely to use protection or you are more likely to make stupid choices. Bingo! …. and I think men and women can be equally stupid when they’re drunk  ;-) M2

Response:

Grant writes: Where do you think women are getting herpes and HPV? From men, of course.  (At least, if you’re heterosexual).  So, that one comment about it being more likely for women than men is kind of bogus, in my opinion.

Depends on how you look at it. I agree that women contract herpes mostly from men, no question. But I can also see why women can be more easily infected. I think it’s the way their plumbing is designed as compared to men (but I hope God NEVER changes it). But whatever the reason, the studies that I’ve seen of discordant couples, with results broken down by gender infected, show a higher percentage of women being infected than men over the same time period. In other words, say you have a study of 1000 discordant couples, starting with 500 infected men and 500 infected women. At the end of the study, more women will end up being infected than men. Seems to be a fairly consistent result study after study. Alcohol may be a contributing factor because when you’re drunk, you’re less likely to use protection or you are more likely to make stupid choices.

Bingo! …. and I think men and women can be equally stupid when they’re drunk  ;-) M2

Response:

Hi Al, Well, think about it.  Where do you think women are getting herpes and HPV? From men, of course.  (At least, if you’re heterosexual).  So, that one comment about it being more likely for women than men is kind of bogus, in my opinion. Alcohol may be a contributing factor because when you’re drunk, you’re less likely to use protection or you are more likely to make stupid choices. As to your specific situation, who knows? ar – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hello All, Recently I read that smoking cigarettes increases your chance of getting genital hpv, because it lowers the immune system. I was a smoker for years, and smoked Marlboro regular (1 pk a day), until I quit in 1999. I suspect that I contracted genital hpv and genital herpes at the same time or 9 years ago approximately. Does anyone know if smoking is also a factor in increasing the risk of getting genital herpes? I am curious mostly because I am a male and have gotten both, where I was also told that females are more likely to get herpes and hpv than males. I am wondering if smoking sabotaged my immune system that much? I also read that drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of getting either of the above, and although I don’t really drink, I have maybe 1-2 drinks a week, such as beer or wine coolers. Does anyone know if this could have increased my chances also? Thanks, Al

Response:

Hi Al ~ You might try doing some searches on smoking and herpes over on pubmed to see if there is any significance to what you mentioned. Where did you hear about all that? I was a smoker for 10 years before I quit in the spring of 1998. I don’t believe my smoking had anything to do with the fact that I contracted herpes simplex virus. Quitting smoking is probably a good idea for everybody and not just the people that have herpes. I believe that the reason why alcohol increases a persons risk is because people have a tendency to participate in risky behavior when they are under the influence. That’s probably the only correlation at this point unless of course you find something over on pubmed or medscape that I wasn’t aware of. Take Care, Angela — Instant Message Anyone? Yahoo! Messenger – yoshi2me http://www.yoshi2me.com/ http://www.herpes-help.blogspot.com/

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello All, Recently I read that smoking cigarettes increases your chance of getting genital hpv, because it lowers the immune system. I was a smoker for years, and smoked Marlboro regular (1 pk a day), until I quit in 1999. I suspect that I contracted genital hpv and genital herpes at the same time or 9 years ago approximately. Does anyone know if smoking is also a factor in increasing the risk of getting genital herpes? I am curious mostly because I am a male and have gotten both, where I was also told that females are more likely to get herpes and hpv than males. I am wondering if smoking sabotaged my immune system that much? I also read that drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of getting either of the above, and although I don’t really drink, I have maybe 1-2 drinks a week, such as beer or wine coolers. Does anyone know if this could have increased my chances also? Thanks, Al

Response:

Hello All, Recently I read that smoking cigarettes increases your chance of getting genital hpv, because it lowers the immune system. I was a smoker for years, and smoked Marlboro regular (1 pk a day), until I quit in 1999. I suspect that I contracted genital hpv and genital herpes at the same time or 9 years ago approximately. Does anyone know if smoking is also a factor in increasing the risk of getting genital herpes? I am curious mostly because I am a male and have gotten both, where I was also told that females are more likely to get herpes and hpv than males. I am wondering if smoking sabotaged my immune system that much? I also read that drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of getting either of the above, and although I don’t really drink, I have maybe 1-2 drinks a week, such as beer or wine coolers. Does anyone know if this could have increased my chances also? Thanks, Al

Response: