Can You Not Know if You Have Herpes
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD on May 15, 2020. To give you technically accurate, bear witness-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.
It might come as a surprise, but it's possible to have canker and not even know it. In fact, many people with herpes don't know they have this sexually transmitted infection (STI or STD) because they don't experience any symptoms. This is what'south known as asymptomatic herpes.
Easily bank check for STIs with our at-home STD test for men or STD test for women. Your secure, online results can tell you if y'all have 6 mutual sexually transmitted infections similar chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis—fifty-fifty if y'all aren't experiencing symptoms.
Hither, you'll learn more almost herpes: what it is exactly, whether yous can still spread information technology fifty-fifty if y'all have no symptoms, who is at risk, and more—so go on reading.
What is herpes and what causes it?
Canker is a very common STD acquired past the herpes simplex virus, or HSV. There are ii different types of canker:
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HSV-ane is a typical crusade of cold sores or fever blisters that announced on the lips. This form of herpes spreads through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person and sometimes affects the genitals.
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HSV-2 is the most mutual cause of genital canker, which tin can pb to symptoms like pocket-size blisters on the genitals, painful urination, swollen lymph nodes effectually the groin, and more. Y'all tin can contract this virus through sexual contact with someone who has information technology. This HSV infection is highly contagious, and it can spread to you regardless of whether your partner has an open sore. If y'all are infected but don't have symptoms, you take asymptomatic herpes.
After an initial infection, the herpes virus doesn't go abroad. Instead, it lies dormant in the trunk earlier it can cause symptoms to reappear. Some people may feel a symptomatic recurrence multiple times a year, while others may get years betwixt flare-ups. In the case of asymptomatic canker, even so, yous may not accept whatsoever noticeable symptoms at any point during the infection.
Are you lot less contagious if you have asymptomatic herpes?
Some people believe y'all can't spread asymptomatic genital herpes; this, however, is a myth. You can still spread the virus to others even if you accept an asymptomatic infection—or if you aren't currently showing symptoms considering the virus is dormant.
Fortunately, whether or not a canker infection causes symptoms, the run a risk of transmitting the virus tin can be significantly reduced by using condoms during sexual intercourse.
What are the symptoms of herpes?
As with many STDs, people with herpes type 2 may not know they have a genital infection because they don't have whatever noticeable symptoms. All the same, in a symptomatic infection, a person may experience the following signs:
- Itching, pain, or tenderness in the genital area
- Small red bumps or white blisters
- Sores or ulcers that occur when the blisters rupture and ooze or bleed
- Scabs that develop as the ulcers heal
If yous're experiencing symptoms like these, consider testing for canker correct away—and speak with your healthcare provider.
During a first herpes outbreak, a person may observe flu-similar symptoms—including fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes around the groin.
When y'all have recurrent genital canker symptoms, the outbreaks tend to exist less frequent and less severe after the initial infection. Before the sores reappear in a recurring outbreak, symptomatic patients may discover the following symptoms:
- Burning, itching, or tingling where they offset had the sores
- Hurting in the buttocks, legs, and/or lower back
How common is herpes—and who is at risk?
Both types of herpes are quite common. The Globe Health Organization (WHO) reports that—globally—an estimated 67% of the population has HSV-1. As for HSV-two, estimates advise that 13% of the population has information technology. Well-nigh of the people in both groups are asymptomatic and many do not know they accept canker.
Women tend to take a higher hazard of HSV-two, the nigh common cause of genital herpes, compared to men. This is because transmission of the herpes virus occurs more finer from men to women than vice versa. Having multiple sexual activity partners also increases one's take a chance of getting herpes.
What complications are connected with an untreated genital herpes infection?
Just as there are wellness risks associated with untreated chlamydia in men and women, in that location are also risks connected with untreated herpes—fifty-fifty in asymptomatic patients. Not just does the infection increase your likelihood of contracting and transmitting other STDs, just it tin also lead to:
- Difficulty urinating, due to inflammation of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder)
- Itchy urethra in males
- Infections in newborns exposed to the virus during a vaginal birth, which tin severely harm the kid's health
- Meningitis (an infection of the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, which occurs in rare cases)
- Rectal inflammation (proctitis), especially in men who accept sex with men
The best way to avoid these complications is to practice safe sex (such as consistently using condoms) and routinely screen for STDs. You lot can conveniently check for half-dozen mutual STDs similar chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis from the privacy of your home with the Everlywell STD Test for men and women.
Herpes diagnosis and handling
If you think you might have genital herpes, it's a good idea to go tested. Y'all can make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a clinic in your area—or y'all tin can take an at-home STD exam.
While there is no cure for either herpes type, antiviral medications can finer reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms. Medications tin also minimize the risk of transmitting the herpes virus to someone else.
The Everlywell at-domicile STD test checks for 6 common STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Your healthcare provider may consider your symptoms along with your test results to go far at a diagnosis.
How tin can you prevent herpes?
To reduce your take chances of canker, be sure yous apply protection (similar a latex condom) whenever you accept sex. If you lot or your partner is experiencing a herpes outbreak, talk with your healthcare provider nearly when you should resume sexual contact with each other.
If y'all take symptoms of HSV-2 or think you might accept asymptomatic genital canker, consider getting tested for herpes to know for sure.
The Everlywell at-habitation STD kit for men or women checks for 6 other common STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Our STD exam gives yous confidential, online results only a few days subsequently the lab receives your sample—making it a convenient testing option.
Related content
Trichomoniasis symptoms in men and women
References
i. Genital herpes: How can you prevent the spread of herpes in sexual relationships? InformedHealth.org. URL. Accessed May 15, 2020.
2. Genital canker. Mayo CLinic. URL. Accessed May 15, 2020.
iii. Canker simplex virus. Earth Health System. URL. Accessed May 15, 2020.
four. Genital Herpes - CDC Fact Canvass. Centers for Illness Command and Prevention. URL. Accessed May 15, 2020.
5. Genital HSV Infections. Centers for Illness Control and Prevention. URL. Accessed May 15, 2020.
Source: https://www.everlywell.com/blog/sti-testing/do-I-have-herpes-and-not-know-it/
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