Herpes threat no less for lesbians.Lesbians are just as likely as straight women to have herpes Herpes Any virus of the herpesvirus group, which comprises a family of 70 species, 5 of which are pathogenic to humans; the term also refers to any infection caused by these viruses. , a new study shows, but it's probably not because of their same-sex activities: Most of those testing positive for the virus also report having had sex with men, Researchers at Harbor-view Medical Center in Seattle obtained medical and sexual histories from 392 women who reported having sex with another woman during the preceding year. Eight percent also reported having had sex with a man at some time--28% within the previous year. "[Health care] providers should really assume nothing when a woman says I'm a lesbian," said Jeanne M. Marrazzo, one of the researchers. Nearly half of the participants rested positive for HSV-1, the herpes virus Herpes virus Viruses that can infect the skin, mucous membranes, and brain, and they are responsible for such diseases as herpes simplex, chicken pox, and shingles. Mentioned in: Erythema Multiforme that usually causes cold sores cold sore: see herpes simplex. , and 7.9% for HSV-2, which tends to cause genital genital /gen·i·tal/ (jen´i-t'l) 1. pertaining to reproduction, or to the reproductive organs. 2. (in the plural) the reproductive organs. gen·i·tal adj. 1. infections. Most were unaware they had the disease. |
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