Ep#225: Everyone Has Herpes with Nurse Amber

<p>Today I&#39;m chatting with Nurse Amber, a board-certified women&#39;s health nurse practitioner, to discuss sexual health and STIs. We cover the prevalence and stigma of herpes, common STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea, testing frequency, and prevention methods including PrEP and DoxyPEP. </p><p><br></p><p>Our conversation also addresses female health concerns such as UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and pelvic floor health, as well as men&#39;s sexual health topics. </p><p><br></p><p>Nurse Amber emphasizes open communication, regular testing, and finding a sex-positive healthcare provider.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Understanding Herpes Transmission (00:02:11)</strong></p><p>Discussion on HSV-1 and HSV-2, how both can be transmitted genitally or orally, and why blood testing has limited utility.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Most Common STIs (00:08:18)</strong></p><p>Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas are identified as the most common STIs seen in clinical practice, with chlamydia being most frequent.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Symptoms of Common STIs (00:08:50)</strong></p><p>A description of potential STI symptoms in people with vaginas and penises, noting that 50% of cases are asymptomatic.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>What is Trichomonas? (00:10:02)</strong></p><p>An explanation of trichomonas, a common parasitic STI that often causes no symptoms but can cause severe inflammation.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Long-Term Risks of Untreated STIs (00:11:50)</strong></p><p>Untreated bacterial STIs can lead to serious complications like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), chronic pain, and impaired fertility.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>STI Incubation Periods (00:14:39)</strong></p><p>Genital STIs are detectable 1-2 weeks post-exposure, while blood-borne infections like HIV and syphilis can take 1-3 months.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>How to Disclose an STI to a Partner (00:15:53)</strong></p><p>Advice on having a direct conversation with partners about a positive STI test and the need for mutual treatment.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>STI Testing Frequency (00:17:19)</strong></p><p>Recommendations for testing frequency based on sexual activity, ranging from every 6-12 months to every 2-3 months for active individuals. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>PrEP and DoxyPEP Explained (00:21:49)</strong></p><p>An overview of PrEP for HIV prevention and DoxyPEP, a post-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Syphilis is Not Gone (00:26:47)</strong></p><p>