Day Five: Some Unexpected “Gifts” from Your Casual Valentine (Part Two)

There are gifts that you would likely want to receive from your true love, but these are some gifts that you would not want to get from your Valentine…

Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a skin infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is spread by sexual contact. Only 20% of people infected with HSV actually show symptoms of having the infection, which can result in painful eruptions of grouped blisters or sores. The virus remains in the body for life, and recurrent flares can be triggered by stress and other factors. There is no cure for herpes, but medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks as well as reduce – but not eliminate – the risk of transmission to others.

Genital herpes can affect anyone who is sexually active. Approximately 10–60% of the general population is infected with genital herpes. It is estimated that 80% of those with HSV have not been diagnosed and are unaware of their condition.

Genital Warts

Genital warts (also known as condyloma acuminatum) are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection. HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Genital warts are one symptom of HPV infection, and a person can carry the virus (and transmit the virus to others) without showing any signs of the infection. An estimated 75–80% of sexually active people will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. There are many options for treatment to remove visible warts, but there is no cure for genital warts, and they can recur. Gardasil® is a vaccine that protects against the most common types of HPV that cause genital warts as well as those that cause cervical cancer. To be effective, the vaccine must be given before exposure.