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Myths
You've heard them before and you may have passed them on but they're still not true!
MYTH: You can't donate blood if you have herpes.
TRUTH:
"Chlamydia, venereal warts (human papilloma virus), or genital herpes are not a cause for deferral
if you are feeling healthy and well and meet all other eligibility requirements."
--American Red Cross
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MYTH: Pregnant women with herpes have to have a Cesarean.
TRUTH:
"A vaginal delivery is safe for most women with recurrent herpes as long as they
don't have signs of infection at delivery."
--March of Dimes
"If a woman doesn't have herpes lesions at the time of delivery, the standard of care
recommended is vaginal delivery."
--American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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MYTH: You can catch herpes from a toilet seat, towel, swimming pool, or hot tub.
TRUTH:
"It's almost impossible to get infected through contact with toilets, towels, or other objects used by an infected person."
--Mayo Health Clinic
"The virus is spread only rarely, if at all, by contact with objects such as a toilet seat or hot tub."
--American Medical Association (AMA)
MYTH: Cold sores are not caused by herpes.
MYTH: Oral herpes is always caused by HSV-1 and genital herpes is always caused by HSV-2.
TRUTH:
"There are two types of
HSV, and both can cause the symptoms of genital herpes. HSV type 1 most commonly causes
sores on the lips (known as fever blisters or cold sores), but it can cause genital
infections as well. HSV type 2 most often causes genital sores, but it also can infect the
mouth."
--American Medical Association (AMA)
"Both viral types can cause either genital or oral infections."
--Center for Disease Control (CDC)
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