Do you know that you may have herpes and never know it? You might be surprised, but the truth is, many people who have been infected with herpes are unaware that they have this sexually transmitted disease or sexually transmitted infection since they have no symptoms. This can be described as asymptomatic herpes.
08 October 2024
5 min read
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Learning to Know About Herpes and Its Causes
Herpes is one of the most common STDs, which is contracted from a virus known as the herpes simplex virus or HSV. There are two major types of herpes to know about:
HSV-1 is most often seen on the lips as cold sores or fever blisters. This virus of herpes is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. The genitals can be affected with this type of herpes on rare occasions.
HSV-2 causes genital herpes and its symptoms include small blisters on the genitals, painful urination, swollen lymph nodes in the groin area, among others. Infection with this virus occurs by having sexual contact with a person who has this infection. The infection rate of HSV-2 is relatively high. You can even get infected if your partner doesn't have an open sore. If you are infected but do not have symptoms, you have asymptomatic herpes.
After the initial infection, the herpes virus does not go away. It becomes dormant in your body and can periodically cause symptoms to recur. The symptomatic recurrence can be very different from person to person. Some may have several outbreaks a year; others may only have one every several years. However, in asymptomatic herpes, recognizable symptoms may never appear during the course of the infection.
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One common myth is that asymptomatic genital herpes is not contagious. This is quite untrue. You can infect another person with the virus even if you do not have symptoms because the infection is asymptomatic, or perhaps because the virus is currently in its dormant stage.
Whether a herpes infection is symptomatic or asymptomatic, using condoms during sex significantly decreases the possibility of the virus being transmitted.
Recognizing Herpes Symptoms
Similar to most sexually transmitted diseases, individuals with herpes type 2 may not realize that they have a genital infection because evident symptoms might never materialize. When a symptomatic infection does occur, the following symptoms can be encountered:
Itching, pain, or tenderness in the genital area
Small, red bumps or white blisters
Sores, or ulcers, that usually appear when blisters rupture, ooze, and bleed
Scabs forming while ulcers heal
If you have these symptoms, then it's time to be tested for herpes as soon as possible and talk to your doctor. Screen for Common STDs Today!
Apart from this, there are flu-like symptoms during the primary outbreak of herpes, including fever, headache, muscle ache, and swollen lymph nodes around the groin area.
Symptoms of recurring genital herpes are generally less frequent and less acute after the initial infection. Before sores show up in a recurring outbreak, symptomatic patients may experience symptoms like:
Burning, itching, or tingling at the site where the sore first appeared
Pain in buttocks, legs, and/or lower back
Prevalence of Herpes and At-Risk Groups
Both types of herpes are very common. According to the World Health Organization, around 67% of the global population is infected with HSV-1, and around 13% with HSV-2. Most of these people have no symptoms and often do not even know that they are infected with herpes.
Women are more likely, in general, to develop HSV-2, the most common cause of genital herpes, than men. This is true because the herpes virus is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men. Having multiple sexual partners increases the risks of getting herpes.
Complications Related to Untreated Genital Herpes
Just like there are health consequences of untreated chlamydia both in men and women, so there are with untreated herpes, even among asymptomatic patients. Not only does the infection increase your vulnerability to other sexually transmitted diseases, but it may also be followed by the following complications:
Inability to urinate caused by inflammation of the urethra-the tube that carries urine from the bladder
Itchy urethra in males
Infections in newborns exposed to the virus during a vaginal delivery, which can result in serious health consequences
Infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord-known as meningitis, although rare
Inflammation of the rectum called proctitis, especially in men who have same-sex intercourse
Diagnosis and Treatment of Herpes
Testing will be important if you think you might have genital herpes. You can find your healthcare provider or a clinic nearby to set up an appointment, or use an at-home STD test.
Neither type of herpes is curable, but antiviral medication can suppress outbreaks and reduce their severity. The medication will lower the chances of giving the herpes virus to another person.
Consequentially, proper practice of safe sex such as consistent use of condoms and regular testing for STDs will prevent the complications identified above. For your convenience, STDRapidtestkits.com gives you an opportunity to test yourself in the comfort of your home for 7 common STDs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B & C, HIV, and syphilis.
To lower your chances of getting herpes, use protection, such as a latex condom, each and every time you have sex. If either you or your sexual partner has a herpes outbreak, go to your healthcare provider for advice on the best time to resume sexual relations.
If you are experiencing symptoms of HSV-2 or believe you may have asymptomatic genital herpes, you should see your health care provider about testing so a diagnosis can be confirmed.
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