Sex is one of the most pleasurable activities known to mankind, so there is no reason why you should opt for abstinence. Even health problems such as herpes shouldn’t stop you from having sex, as long as you take certain precautionary measures every time you engage in sexual behavior. If you are one of the many HSV singles out there, all the more reason to find out how to have great sex without spreading the STD to others.
Things can get a bit complicated after you’ve been diagnosed with herpes, as the virus tends to come back more or less frequently, depending on your immune system and the type of herpes you have. If you are in a relationship with a person that doesn’t have herpes, that doesn’t mean that sex is completely off limits, just that you have to be extra careful.
First things first, you should inform yourself about prevention. If you have herpes and your partner doesn’t, you should use protection every time you have sex. Even if you don’t have sores on your mouth or genitalia, your partner can get infected. It is crucial to wear a latex condom every time you have sex, which includes fellatio. Condoms are still the best way to prevent your partner from contracting the virus. Unfortunately, no method can guarantee that your partner won’t contract herpes. Instead of frightening you, this should motivate you and your partner to explore the various safe sex options available. Also, never touch your sores and then your partner and make sure not to exchange any body fluids during the herpes outbreak, as this can be a potential way to transfer the virus to your partner. In this herpes juggling game, a lot depends on your partner’s immune system because some people are simply immune to the herpes virus while others are more susceptible to it.
If you are suffering from genital herpes and you want to have sex during an outbreak, you should steer clear from all the ‘usual’ activities that come with sexy time. This means no penetration, regardless of your gender – the genital herpes virus is transferred by touch. The good thing is that while you might be having trouble with genital herpes, your mouth doesn’t necessarily have to have the same problem, so use your imagination from there.
One of the good sides of this prickly situation is that you and your partner get to explore the sex field outside the usual ways of making love, which is exciting and invigorating. There are many ways to please each other, such as mutual masturbation which, if done properly, is just as satisfying as vaginal sex. Now, when it comes to masturbation, the options are countless. What’s more, there’s practically no risk that your partner will get infected. Masturbation is very underrated in the realm of sex games but it is actually incredibly arousing and quite educational, as you can learn a lot about what your partner likes. Make sure, though, that neither of you has any small cuts or broken skin on your fingers because that can be a way in for the virus. Moreover, wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
If you love sex toys, then herpes outbreaks will basically pose no problem to you. Use the toys to spice up your sex life but just remember to keep hygiene on a high level. Wash your toys before and after you’ve used them and clean them thoroughly. Under no circumstance should you share the same toy because all the cautionary steps you’ve taken will be futile.
There is also the option of using antiviral drug therapy that will help you suppress the virus. This might be the best option for some HSV singles or for people who have frequent herpes outbreaks. If you should choose to try this therapy, be sure to consult with your doctor beforehand and still wear a condom during sex because the therapy can only diminish transmission by up to fifty percent. If you use lubricants often, use the water based ones because the oily ones break up the latex condoms and then you’re back to square one.
All in all, there is a number of ways to indulge in sex even when herpes is giving you grief, so don’t be too fast to give it up altogether during your outbreaks. Just be imaginative and don’t be afraid to experiment.
