Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women (approximately one in four women) than in men (almost one out of eight). This may be because male-to-female transmission is more likely than female-to-male transmission.
Epidemic Up – Genital herpes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, 500,000 are diagnosed each year. One in five American adults has herpes, but only a third of those inflicted realize that they have the virus. One in four teens in the United States become infected with STDs each year and at age 25. Many people do not relate their symptoms to herpes, since they have either very mild symptoms or none at all. More than 50 million cases currently estimated to exist in both active or inactive stage.
Herpes increases risk of contracting HIV – Those who have genital herpes sores are at higher risk of HIV infection during intercourse. When the immune system is healing the lesions, there are a lot of immune cells concentrated in the area. HIV infects these cells. Higher risk of infection if vaginal fluid, semen, or blood infected with HIV having contact with herpes lesions, herpes, leaving the people who are infected with HIV more infectious.
Genital Herpes and HIV Treatment – When someone is HIV positive and have genital herpes, it is much more difficult to maintain in remission because of recurrent high doses of antiviral drugs that are often needed. Also many people with HIV have a compromised immune system, which again lowers the body’s ability to resist relapse in itself.