FEBRUARY 3. 2006
JUStjOUt 15
northwest
Women and Herpes
The (sometimes) invisible menace
by Mary Christmas
never asked to get tested for herpes
because I never had a reason to think
that I had it,” says Gene, a 30-year-old
Portland lesbian who developed the sex
ually transmitted disease last fall.
According to a handbook written by Terri Warren
of Northwest Portland’s Westover Heights Clinic,
the most prevalent STD in the country is easy to
catch, not diagnosed by most screenings and can
be passed on by people who show no symptoms
and who don’t even realize they’re infected.
The disease is herpes, and it could be that the
lesbian community faces a higher risk of spreading
it. There is a misconception among some women
that herpes is harder to pass between female part
ners, which can lead to unsafe sex. But up to 60
percent of the adult population in the United
States has herpes, and like in Gene’s case, some of
those people are infecting their partners with gen
ital herpes through unprotected oral sex.
Herpes viruses account for several different,
and unrelated, diseases including Epstein-Barr and
shingles. Herpes simplex 1 (HSV 1) and herpes
simplex 2 (HSV 2) can be spread between sex
partners—and in ways that might surprise you.
While people generally think of genital herpes
(usually HSV 2) as the kind that is highly conta-
gious and causes multiple outbreaks of
sores every year, HSV 1 is more often
passed from one person to another.
Cold sores are often the most obvious presentation of the herpes virus; carriers can pass the virus on for
Type 1 has a familiar face: cold sores.
years without knowing they are infected.
While education can help prevent
transmission, sometimes awareness is not enough.
among those infected with it? Lack of testing could
antibodies to the virus. Savvy STD hunters should
For Gene, years of carefully avoiding infection
be the culprit. Gene has no health insurance, only
ask their doctor for a blood test that “types” which
might have delayed catching herpes but did not
a limited emergency medical plan that doesn’t cov virus is present and should bring their partners in
er preventative care. She says she will “usually go
protect her in the end.
for the same treatment.
to free clinics for tests like this” but notes that the
“There was a two-week period where 1 thought
Spicing it up in the bednxim in new ways might
be necessary for herpes-positive people, since the
1 had herpes, and I had safe sex for years unless 1
more expensive tests are not performed. At her last
visit to Outside In, a sliding-scale clinic downtown,
had a steady partner that I knew. But then I got
virus can be passed orally, genitally and even
herpes was not one of the diseases included: “They
through touch. Those with herpes in one area can
more lax about it. I would just ask people if they’d
tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV.” even infect themselves on another part of the
ever had an outbreak,” she says.
Wayne Centrone, medical outreach director for body—a process known as “autoinoculation.” The
Her girlfriend had never shown signs of having
Outside In, confirms that herpes is not generally
cold sores, so both were surprised when Gene got
risk level can be very frustrating, and dental dams
part of any clinic’s basic test. “Because of the alone are not enough to keep partners safe.
sick. When she asked her girlfriend about her sta
expense of screening for herpes, we just can’t afford
Testing is essential. Karen Sweigert of Cascade
tus, “She said, ‘I don’t have herpes’ hut had never
to do it for free.” He adds that if someone is con Women’s Health recommends a test for anyone
been tested. She has now, and she’s a carrier."
cerned about their status, the test is available, but “who has changed partners in the last year or are
It is possible to contract oral herpes during
planning on becoming pregnant.” She believes
childhood from a parent and to never experience t the patient must cover the cost.
While a blood test is the only way to know for “herpes is not a life-threatening STD. It’s very
an outbreak while still being a transmitter.
livable. But the first infection is nasty.” ©
Although Gene admits her first outbreak made her
sure if you are infected, some outdated tests can
feel “total depression,” she hasn’t blamed anyone in
particular: “I haven’t really been angry at [my girl
friend!. She had no idea that she had it.”
Why is there such ignorance about herpes, even
give insubstantial results because they don’t differ
entiate between the two simplex viruses. Also,
a false negative can occur, because it can take up tp
three months for the infected persop to produce
M ary C hristmas is a Portland free-lance writer and
senior editor of Spread Magazine: Illuminating the
Sex Industry, online at wu'U’. spreadmagazine.<rrg.
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