How Do You Know You Have Herpes Without Symptoms
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD on May 15, 2020. To give you lot technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.
Information technology might come as a surprise, merely it's possible to have herpes 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's known as asymptomatic herpes.
Hands bank check for STIs with our at-home STD exam for men or STD exam for women. Your secure, online results tin can tell you if you have half dozen mutual sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis—even if you aren't experiencing symptoms.
Here, you'll learn more than about canker: what it is exactly, whether you can still spread it fifty-fifty if you accept no symptoms, who is at risk, and more—so keep reading.
What is herpes and what causes information technology?
Canker is a very common STD caused by the herpes simplex virus, or HSV. In that location are two different types of herpes:
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HSV-1 is a typical cause of cold sores or fever blisters that appear on the lips. This course of canker spreads through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person and sometimes affects the genitals.
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HSV-2 is the about common cause of genital herpes, which tin can lead to symptoms similar modest blisters on the genitals, painful urination, swollen lymph nodes around the groin, and more. You tin contract this virus through sexual contact with someone who has it. This HSV infection is highly contagious, and information technology tin spread to you regardless of whether your partner has an open up sore. If you are infected but don't accept symptoms, you accept asymptomatic herpes.
Later on an initial infection, the herpes virus doesn't become away. Instead, it lies fallow in the body before it tin can crusade symptoms to reappear. Some people may experience a symptomatic recurrence multiple times a twelvemonth, while others may go years between flare-ups. In the case of asymptomatic herpes, however, you may non have any noticeable symptoms at any point during the infection.
Are you less contagious if yous take asymptomatic canker?
Some people believe you can't spread asymptomatic genital herpes; this, yet, is a myth. You can still spread the virus to others even if you have an asymptomatic infection—or if you aren't currently showing symptoms because the virus is fallow.
Fortunately, whether or not a herpes infection causes symptoms, the risk of transmitting the virus 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 considering they don't have whatsoever noticeable symptoms. However, in a symptomatic infection, a person may experience the following signs:
- Itching, pain, or tenderness in the genital expanse
- Small red bumps or white blisters
- Sores or ulcers that occur when the blisters rupture and ooze or drain
- Scabs that develop every bit the ulcers heal
If you're experiencing symptoms like these, consider testing for herpes right away—and speak with your healthcare provider.
During a showtime herpes outbreak, a person may find influenza-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 be less frequent and less severe after the initial infection. Before the sores reappear in a recurring outbreak, symptomatic patients may notice the following symptoms:
- Burning, itching, or tingling where they first had the sores
- Hurting in the buttocks, legs, and/or lower back
How mutual is herpes—and who is at risk?
Both types of canker are quite common. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that—globally—an estimated 67% of the population has HSV-1. Equally for HSV-2, estimates propose that 13% of the population has it. Most of the people in both groups are asymptomatic and many do not know they have herpes.
Women tend to have a higher run a risk of HSV-2, the most mutual cause of genital canker, compared to men. This is because transmission of the herpes virus occurs more finer from men to women than vice versa. Having multiple sex partners also increases i's risk of getting herpes.
What complications are connected with an untreated genital herpes infection?
Just as there are health risks associated with untreated chlamydia in men and women, at that place are also risks connected with untreated herpes—even in asymptomatic patients. Non only does the infection increase your likelihood of contracting and transmitting other STDs, merely it tin can 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 nativity, which can severely harm the child'southward 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 take sexual activity with men
The all-time fashion to avoid these complications is to practice safe sexual practice (such as consistently using condoms) and routinely screen for STDs. You lot tin conveniently bank check for 6 mutual STDs similar chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis from the privacy of your home with the Everlywell STD Examination for men and women.
Herpes diagnosis and treatment
If yous think you lot might have genital herpes, information technology's a skilful thought to go tested. You tin make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a dispensary in your expanse—or you can accept an at-abode STD test.
While there is no cure for either herpes type, antiviral medications tin can finer reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms. Medications tin as well minimize the chance of transmitting the canker virus to someone else.
The Everlywell at-domicile STD test checks for vi mutual STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Your healthcare provider may consider your symptoms along with your test results to arrive at a diagnosis.
How tin can yous prevent canker?
To reduce your risk of herpes, be sure you employ protection (like a latex condom) whenever you accept sex activity. If you or your partner is experiencing a herpes outbreak, talk with your healthcare provider about when you lot should resume sexual contact with each other.
If you have symptoms of HSV-2 or think you might accept asymptomatic genital herpes, consider getting tested for canker to know for sure.
The Everlywell at-home STD kit for men or women checks for half dozen other mutual STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Our STD test gives you confidential, online results only a few days after the lab receives your sample—making it a convenient testing choice.
Related content
Trichomoniasis symptoms in men and women
References
1. Genital herpes: How can you forestall the spread of herpes in sexual relationships? InformedHealth.org. URL. Accessed May 15, 2020.
2. Genital canker. Mayo CLinic. URL. Accessed May 15, 2020.
3. Canker simplex virus. Earth Health Arrangement. URL. Accessed May 15, 2020.
4. Genital Herpes - CDC Fact Canvas. Centers for Illness Control 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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