I recently read somewhere that oral herpes is the worse of the two strains, and is far more aggressive than genital herpes (people can die if it attacks their brain, go blind when it attacks the cornea, etc).
The oral herpes virus can cause both strains (genital & herpes) when transferred to someone else; but, they say that those who are commonly infected with oral herpes seem to never have a break out 'down there'….or may only experience it once in their life time. I don’t think the article suggested that this is because people become immune to a genital break out…but because the oral virus is the more aggressive, it takes over.
Wish I could find that article....if I do I'll post it.
It also went on to say that EVERYONE contracts oral herpes at some point, and usually in childhood. The virus stays in the body forever and becomes localized in nerve cells in the neck near the ear region (the genital herpes virus becomes localized in the lower spine). Depending on individual immune system - one may never have an out break of oral herpes again. Those who commonly do, have immune systems which are unable to fight the virus.
From what I've read, genital herpes is a rather weak strain, and is not as serious as oral herpes....but the social stigma associated with 'sexually transmitted disease' has the medical industry focused on the lesser strain, while ignoring the more dangerous oral strain.
Hopefully one day medical science will focus instead on individual immune system – as this ultimately determines who gets it, and who is more susceptible to it. It would be a good idea because they’re beginning to suspect herpes in connection with different forms of cancers.
This also interconnects with the HPV virus. Those whose immune systems are susceptible to herpes virus are also more susceptible to the effects of the HPV virus. Supposedly, 90% of men carry HPV – while having no known (?) health effects from it. HPV causes cancer in women. This is largely why, throughout time, women have been having hysterectomies, and dying from cervical / ovarian cancers….or other cancers after it has spread. It took years for medical science to catch on to this. Just recently, they have come out with a vaccine.
There haven't been many studies to date in regards to how carrying HPV in the body affects men or women, and overall health, because again, medical science and society is focussed on only one strain - that is, the 'sexually transmitted' genital warts strain.