October 17, 2018 at 11:00PM Let’s talk about the “H” word: herpes. Continue Reading… Let’s talk about the “H” word: herpes. Did you know that it’s way more common than you think? In fact, judging by the World Health Organization’s findings that 3.7 billion people worldwide under the age of 50 have herpes simplex type 1, or HSV-1, chances are that many people you know have the virus. That’s roughly 67 percent of the world’s population in that age group, after all. But even with that degree of prevalence, there are still so many misconceptions about both strains of the herpes simplex virus, and it’s high time we debunked them and set the record straight. Here are four common herpes myths, explained: 1. Myth: Herpes is one virus. Thought all herpes referred to the same garden-variety virus? Think again: Type 1 of the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) is, in fact, not the same virus as the one commonly referred to as genital herpes. That one is herpes simplex type 2, or HSV-2, and it affects roughly 12 percent of people ages 14 to 49, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. So the HSV-1 virus, which is the one that causes cold sores, isn’t an indicator of issues…downstairs. 2. Myth: There’s nothing you can do to treat HSV-1. This doesn’t mean that herpes isn’t contagious, as both strains very much are; it just means you have to be especially diligent in managing it when sores or outward signs present