When you first, hear the word herpes, there are two things comes to everyone’s mind immediately; genitals and cold sores.

Half of the Americans are suffering from oral herpes and one out of six Americans have genital herpes. Do you know there are some 100 types of herpes? Yes, there are indeed more than 100 different types of herpes viruses. But out of those two can be tested through blood, they are HSV-1 and HSV-2. The rest are in research and you cannot test the rest of them right now.

Earlier, HSV-1 was mostly associated with only oral herpes means cold sores and blisters around the mouth. While HSV-2 is related to genital herpes. But you get strain in your genital areas too.

Facts everyone must consider about Herpes

• Mistaken as a yeast infection

There are various types of herpes infections and that show different levels of symptoms and severity. Often, if someone is experiencing herpes for the first time, the symptoms look like yeast infections or UTI, yellow discharge, genital area pain, and burning sensation while urinating. If the doctor does not swab you for testing the herpes virus at the first meet then ask them the second time to do it. And if the symptoms are still there after getting treated for UTI or yeast infection.

However, if those are not only the symptoms showing. Like blister bumps of genital or oral herpes and red clusters will start showing within 10 days. These sore may burst and heal after some time but they come back again.

More: Herpes Facts That Every Herpes Single Should Know

• Herpes increases the risk of getting STI

Technically, if you say it does happen. It is more behavioral than actual risk. The reason is if as a teenager you had chlamydia that does not mean you get herpes at 30 years old. But your behavior may put you into that risk. If your herpes test comes positive then test STI too. HSV-2 infected in the genital area is linked to a higher risk of HIV. It is not completely true but there are some inflammation and breaking down, that can help HIV easily enter into the body.

• Spreading herpes decreases over time

As you become older, the virus starts losing its ability to infect others. When you fight it for a longer period and left with less chance to asymptomatic shedding. It means you are less likely to outbreak without knowing and pass the virus.

• Predict the outbreak

It is just like a phenomenon called prodrome which happens when the patient experiences symptoms before the lesion appears. Some of them will recognize them early. The herpes virus can live in the nerve root of the spinal cord. When the virus re activities it comes down to the same nerve root and causes a lesion in any specific area. Then patients will show itching, burning and tingling. If you notice such symptoms, you can begin your herpes treatment right away. It will not prevent the lesion probably but decreases the severity and longevity of the outbreak.

• Condoms only work

When you are not to have an outbreak, you can have sex as long as you use a condom. With consistent use decreases the risk of infecting your partner by 30%, as per the study. But remember one thing, condoms can break and some even do not know how it is used properly. As the virus is spread through skin to skin, it means slipping up can leave an uninfected person at risk.

• Antiviral drugs

The most commonly prescribed drug treat the current outbreak is anti-viral medicine. But it depends on if it is the first outbreak or repeated occurrence, the treatment will last for 10 days.