As part of our on going public educational program we conducted a self assessment poll on myths and facts about Genital herpes. Please click here to see the poll first before you read the answer below. 

Unfortunately only 4/ 29 got the answer right. The answer is Genital Herpes can be acquired by oral sex too as it is the same virus can sometimes cause cold sores. Therefore a condom does not necessarily protect against genital herpes. Moreover the entire genital area can be infected by the virus and hence a condom would not protect anyway as it only covers a part of the penis. The virus can reside in the skin without manifesting blisters/ sores (silent infection/ carriers). Therefore option 3 is not right either. However someone with visible blisters is much more infective that a silent carrier. Option 4 is a tricky one and it all depends on your mental state. Some people are freaked out by any STD. Yes the virus is indeed harmless and doesn’t affect your general health. However one STD is a warning to look out for other STD’s and get a complete STD screen done with your doctor. So one should not just ignore an STD. Well done, those of you who got it right!