Alie Ward

So you kind of never know.

But the steep decline over time in viral shedding is why Dr. Park says it's sometimes a one and done, meaning it's usually dormant, but you never get rid of it entirely.

So not one and done, typically number two.

Yeah.

And what happens, let's say that you contract herpes or you have it.

Yes.

Is there anything anyone can do to make sure that it doesn't recur or that they don't give it to anyone else?

They don't put anyone at risk?

for that.

Like, should people be using dental dams or saran wrap or should they be getting tested or should they disclose anything or should they disclose it only if they're having an active outbreak?

Let's say someone's like, oh, I get cold sores or I've had an outbreak once downstairs or

or recurring, what would be the best course of action?

Because a lot of people probably are asking Reddit and you are much more knowledgeable than Reddit.

How would you know if you have contracted herpes?

Now, most people remain totally unaware and asymptomatic, or they have mild symptoms.

Now, things to look out for are pain or itching in your jennies, bumps or blisters on the genital or your butthole or mouth, painful peeing, discharge, and even flu-like symptoms like fever and aches and swollen lymph nodes in the groin area as your immune system is like, what the hell, man?

And in terms of testing, there are blood tests that look for antibodies to it or active sores can be swabbed.

So that first outbreak can pop up two days to two weeks after exposure, but then subsequent on course of the sores could announce themselves like a few days or hours ahead of time with some tingling or pain in the genitals or in the legs or hip or butt.

Why would you randomly start shedding virus?

Is it like, oh, you've got jet lag and you're worn down?