Does genital herpes virus live in semen?
A. The herpes virus has not been found to exist in male semen. It is a viral infection spread through direct skin-to-skin contact and sexual contact (oral, anal or vaginal). The initial outbreak of herpes usually occurs within two weeks of the initial infection and can last up to four weeks. In the initial outbreak stage, an infected person usually gets sores or blisters in the genital area, and this can be extremely painful. Some other symptoms of herpes are flu-like symptoms, fatigue, fever or swollen glands. The virus remains in the body of the person forever. But, it can be controlled by medication. Q. I have been using Ortho Tri-Cyclen for two weeks and was wondering when it becomes effective in preventing pregnancy. A. You will need to use additional birth control when you first start on Ortho Tri-Cyclen or any pill. Follow your health care provider’s instructions. You should also read the instructional insert found inside the package for details, but to be extra safe, call your
