It can take two weeks to six months after being exposed to herpes before it is detected in the blood. To make matters more complicated, if you are low risk for herpes and asymptomatic, it increases your risk of a false positive result. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends against routine testing for herpes unless you or your partner have symptoms.
The most accurate test is when you are able to take a swab sample from a new herpes lesion, but often times the diagnosis is made by a clinician based on your history and report of symptoms.
Because the blood test can be expensive and inaccurate, it is not typically included in a sexually transmitted disease evaluation unless you ask your provider for it specifically. If you do experience an outbreak, a skin swab — not a blood test — is your best bet for confirmation.
If you have the virus, your doctor may prescribe a medication like Zovirax or Valtrex to keep on hand in case of a flare-up. People with herpetic infections can thus learn to manage their triggers to minimize the chance of an outbreak. For those who get frequent outbreaks—say, more than 3 or 4 per year—medications are available which shorten the duration of symptoms and decrease the likelihood of spreading the virus. If you get frequent outbreaks and are have not discussed the possibility of using medications to suppress the herpes virus, you should call us for an appointment.
A diagnosis of herpes is not the end of the world, but women should know where they stand. We encourage testing for all sexually active women. If you suspect you may have had exposure to the herpes virus, you should come see us for an evaluation.
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Genital herpes is an STD caused by two types of viruses. Oral herpes is usually caused by HSV-1 and can result in cold sores or fever blisters on or around the mouth.
However, most people do not have any symptoms. Most people with oral herpes were infected during childhood or young adulthood from non-sexual contact with saliva. Oral herpes caused by HSV-1 can be spread from the mouth to the genitals through oral sex. This is why some cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV Genital herpes is common in the United States.
More than one out of every six people aged 14 to 49 years have genital herpes. You can get genital herpes by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the disease. If you do not have herpes, you can get infected if you come into contact with the herpes virus in:. You can get herpes from a sex partner who does not have a visible sore or who may not know he or she is infected.
It is also possible to get genital herpes if you receive oral sex from a sex partner who has oral herpes. You will not get herpes from toilet seats, bedding, or swimming pools, or from touching objects around you such as silverware, soap, or towels. If you have additional questions about how herpes is spread, consider discussing your concerns with a healthcare provider.
If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting genital herpes:. Be aware that not all herpes sores occur in areas that are covered by a latex condom.
Also, herpes virus can be released shed from areas of the skin that do not have a visible herpes sore. For these reasons, condoms may not fully protect you from getting herpes. If you are in a relationship with a person known to have genital herpes, you can lower your risk of getting genital herpes if:. If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, it is very important for you to go to prenatal care visits.
Skip to content. It is estimated that 1 out of 6 people have genital herpes. Herpes can only be passed through direct skin-to-skin contact with the infected area such as kissing, oral sex, genital-to-genital rubbing, vaginal, and anal sex. This is called asymptomatic shedding.
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