The 411 on Herpes

What you need to know about this incurable STD.

Understanding This STD - With recent news that Steelers’ player Camaron Thomas is being sued for allegedly giving his ex-girlfriend herpes, this STD has been back in the media. Read more about this sexually transmitted infection and how it impacts African-Americans. — Kellee Terrell  (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) 

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Understanding This STD - With recent news that Steelers’ player Camaron Thomas is being sued for allegedly giving his ex-girlfriend herpes, this STD has been back in the media. Read more about this sexually transmitted infection and how it impacts African-Americans. — Kellee Terrell  (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) 

What’s Genital Herpes? - Genital herpes is a virus that is spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex. You can also contract it by skin on skin contact. There are two forms of the herpes virus that can cause genital herpes: Herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2. (Photo: Getty Images)

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What’s Genital Herpes? - Genital herpes is a virus that is spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex. You can also contract it by skin on skin contact. There are two forms of the herpes virus that can cause genital herpes: Herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2. (Photo: Getty Images)

What Does Herpes Look Like? - Herpes can present itself in outbreaks that appear as a cluster of painful puss-filled blisters or just one blister by itself. The fluid inside the herpes sore contains the virus. But just because someone doesn’t have any sores, doesn’t mean that they don’t have herpes or that you cannot contract the disease. (Photo: BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

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What Does Herpes Look Like? - Herpes can present itself in outbreaks that appear as a cluster of painful puss-filled blisters or just one blister by itself. The fluid inside the herpes sore contains the virus. But just because someone doesn’t have any sores, doesn’t mean that they don’t have herpes or that you cannot contract the disease. (Photo: BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

On Telling It Like It Is - We’ve all been there — your friend dances manically at a party full of people or decides to try out the latest fashion trend that isn’t quite right for her. It is your duty to tell your friend when she looks crazy, because if you don’t, no one else will. Sometimes you need to play the bad guy. She’ll thank you later for being straight up and honest. (Photo: Mango Productions/Corbis)

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But What’s an Outbreak? - Herpes clears up and go away, but when it returns, it’s called an outbreak. Not everyone has outbreaks or they may have mild ones. How often they occur depends on the person. It’s believed that stress can bring on an outbreak. (Photo: Mango Productions/Corbis)

“Most Cases of Breast Cancer Are Hereditary" - FALSE: Only about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are the result of inherited genetic mutations, and only about 20 to 30 percent of women with breast cancer have a family member with the disease. However, having one first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) with breast cancer doubles a woman's risk, and having two first-degree relatives triples her risk. (Source: The American Cancer Society) (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 

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Many People Don’t Know They Have Herpes - Sometimes a herpes outbreak looks like a pimple or an ingrown hair, making people unaware that they have the STD. The only way to know if you have herpes is by either getting a sore swabbed or by getting a blood test done by a doctor or clinic worker. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Be Proactive - You’ll never meet your great love if you sit in the house alone every weekend. Host an ex-boyfriend party, where your single girlfriends have to bring someone great who they used to date. Or tag along with your homegirl the next time she has drinks with her old coworkers or her friends from college. (Photo: James Carman/Getty Images)

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How Common Is Herpes - It’s much more common than people think. Overall, it’s estimated that one in six Americans ages 14-49 has herpes, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Photo: James Carman/Getty Images)

Real Talk - You would think that for as long as people have been having sex, we would collectively have a better understanding of it. But alas, there are several myths that refuse to die. Here, we break ’em down. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: GettyImages) 

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African-Americans and Herpes - Blacks are dispropotionately affected by herpes. A 2012 CDC study found that 39 percent of Blacks had genital herpes compared to 12 percent of whites. (Photo: Getty Images)

My Man Isn’t on the Low, So We Don’t Need Condoms - Study after study has shown that down-low men are not fueling the AIDS epidemic among Black women. So why do we still believe it? Think: If heterosexual sex is how we are being infected, that means straight Black men have this disease, too. So rap it up, regardless of who you’re with.(Photo: Touchlife Images/Getty Images)

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Do Condoms Help With Herpes? - Yes and no. Wearing condoms is extremely important in reducing your risk, but just because you wear condoms doesn’t mean you can’t contract herpes. You can contract herpes from skin-on-skin contact. (Photo: Touchlife Images/Getty Images)

Or Nah? - It’s one of the rules that seem to persist no matter who is doing the advising: Don’t have sex on the first date. But why not? And what if you really want to? Here, the pros and cons of getting it in on date one. By Kenrya Rankin Naasel (Photo: Rob Melnychuk/Corbis)

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The Link Between Herpes and HIV Transmission - Having herpes can greatly incease your risk of contracting HIV by two to three times. The open sores are modes for HIV to enter the blood stream. But even those with cleared sores are still at risk for HIV given that STDs weaken one's immune system.(Photo: Rob Melnychuk/Corbis)

Is There a Cure? - No, herpes has no cure. But it can be managed with treatments such as Valtrex and crèmes. If you have herpes, make sure you talk to your doctor about which treatment options are best for you. (Photo: Visuals Unlimited/Corbis)

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Is There a Cure? - No, herpes has no cure. But it can be managed with treatments such as Valtrex and crèmes. If you have herpes, make sure you talk to your doctor about which treatment options are best for you. (Photo: Visuals Unlimited/Corbis)

Why Men and Boys Have to Be Part of the Conversation - Given that rapists usually rape women of the same race, it’s really important that we have open and honest conversations and more programs teaching Black men and boys what healthy consensual sex looks like and how to respect women. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Getty Images)

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Living With Herpes - Living with herpes isn’t easy, but it’s important to be open with others about your STD when entering into sexual relationships. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Getty Images)