Any infection that can be transmitted sexually is a
Sexually
Transmitted
Infection by the very definition of the acronym.
When it comes to herpes the fact that lesions can appear on the sexual organs reinforces the definition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheIdesOfMarch
The same HSV virus that one would find in a cold sore is the same one that would be classed as HSV-2 (genital herpes). If you had a cold sore in childhood for whatever reason chances are you already have that virus. It doesn't suddenly become an STI simply because it can also be transmitted by sexual contact and cause genital herpes with the HSV-2 classification instead of the HSV-1 oral classification.
Doesn't make sense that Herpes is an STI when worldwide rates of either HSV-1 or HSV-2 are between 60% and 95% in adults. I get very sick and tired of all the PSAs on STIs that include herpes in it when oftentimes people don't get it first from sexual contact and frankly it should be treated as nothing better or worse than a cold or cough virus. The only reason why herpes began to be stigmatised as an STI was because in the 1970s the company that invented Acyclovir needed something to fear-monger about to market their new drug.
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