Condoms can protect against genital herpes

Study’s lead researcher Dr. Emily T. Martin of Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of Washington, Seattle, said, “It’s the consistent use of the condom that’s important.”

HSV-2 causes herpes
Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) is the culprit behind genital herpes. The infection caused by this virus can lead to extreme pain in the genital area.

Though the virus can be restrained for a long period of time with the use of various available treatments, the bad news is that once contracted, the HSV-2 virus stays with a person during his lifetime.

Study details
For conducting the study, researchers merged statistics available from six different studies of HSV-2 occurrence and condom use. A total of 5,384 people were included in the study so as to get more accurate results.

When the research study commenced, none of the participants suffered from HSV-2 infection. After all these people were followed for just over a year, it was discovered that 415 of them got afflicted with genital herpes.

It was found that people who always used condoms had 30 percent less chances of getting infected as compared to people who didn’t use condoms.

Also, unsafe sexual practices added to the danger of getting infected.

Condoms don’t offer 100 percent protection
It is a known fact that condoms can help avert the spread of life-threatening conditions like HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), chlamydia, gonorrhoea as well as many other types of sexually transmitted diseases. However, if condoms can help effectively prevent HSV-2 virus is still not well-established, revealed Martin and her research team.

But the researchers did add that condoms don’t offer 100 percent protection and can only guard partially. This is because the virus HSV-2 gets transmitted if the area of your skin not covered with condom comes in contact with the infected person.

Furthermore, even if the symptoms of genital herpes are not exactly visible in people affected by it, they can still infect others with the virus. Nevertheless, Martin added, “30 percent is partial protection, but it is protection.”