Worst Valentine’s Day gift everNo doubt that most of the U.S.’ estimated 45 million Herpes sufferers take the counsel of their doctors and use condoms during sex even between outbreaks. But for those who don’t and instead choose to throw their and their partner’s future health on the craps table of life and, in effect, scream “let it ride,” there are some researchers at the University of Washington who would like a word. A new study from the UW’s big brains challenges the conventional wisdom on the life cycle of the Herpes virus. Typically, Herpes Simplex 2–the kind that causes genital legions lesions, not cold sores like it’s more benign cousin, Herpes Simplex 1–hides out near the spine. It was thought that the virus was hibernating there during the interludes between outbreaks. But data from the study indicates that tiny bits of the virus shed into the genital tract even when the disease is otherwise dormant. By their own admission, scientists at UW don’t know if these low levels of the disease are enough to infect someone else. Still, invest in prophylactics, kids–as if you really needed another reason.