HERPES

Can I grow out of Herpes?

Dear Dr. Tom:

I have a couple of questions for you.
I recently have had sex (unprotected) with a guy. He did not tell me
he had any kind of STD’s. Two days after we had sex, I noticed itching
around my private areas. I went to the doctor (Did not say anything
about it because I thought it was no big deal). The itching is the
major part of this discomfort. I cannot even sleep. Can I have herpes?
If so, can I grow out of it. I am relatively young. How can I know
I have herpes for a fact,before I bring the subject up with my mom.
Should I ask the partner I was with?
Need to know

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Dr. Tom’s Response:

Dear Need to Know:

Never mind about the idea of "being no
big deal"!

As you said, you experienced unprotected
sex. You had sex with your guy AND with every other sexual partner
that he had, likewise. If your guy has herpes, or even if he does not
have herpes, he may also be capable of transmitting other sexual diseases.
Both you and your partner should have undergone testing with a physician.

One cannot grow out of a herpes infection.
The disease is irreversible. Your age has nothing to do with this infection.
It is imperative that the prospect of other sexual infections be examined
for you, as well as herpes. Consider the possibility of gonorrhea,
chlamydia, syphilis or HIV, beyond the request to have herpes laboratory
testing. A number of antiviral herpes compounds can be prescribed to
increase your comfort level. You can undergo treatment and your parents
need not know unless you request.

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