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Herpes/HIV Questions
Doc, first of all I would like to say thank you for all that you do. Your answers are very informative and are of much help.
About 7 weeks ago I had intercourse with an American escort in Las Vegas. I have shown no symptoms of anything over the past 7 weeks with the exceptions of stress and anxiety. Intercourse was protected with the exception of a few minutes when the condom broke. Oral sex was fully protected. This is my first incident where I am worried and know I had nothing before. When the condom broke she asked me if I had anything and I asked her, her answer was no. I think thats a good sign, but dont want to read to far into it and have a problem trusting an absolute strangers word. I have read on other forums that you can have herpes with no symptoms and this worries me a great deal. So here are my questions:
1) Is there a percentage of HSV2 infected patients that show no symptoms whatsoever? If so how high is it?
2) If you show no symptoms can you just have an outbreak at any given time?
3) Is it true leg pain is a symptom of Herpes?
4) What is the best method of testing for herpes?
As well I am not sure if I should post this separately in the HIV forum but Is the risk lower on an incident where the condom breaks? i.e. Would it be lower than the 1 in 2000 you have stated on other questions.
In advance your answers are greatly appreciated.
About 7 weeks ago I had intercourse with an American escort in Las Vegas. I have shown no symptoms of anything over the past 7 weeks with the exceptions of stress and anxiety. Intercourse was protected with the exception of a few minutes when the condom broke. Oral sex was fully protected. This is my first incident where I am worried and know I had nothing before. When the condom broke she asked me if I had anything and I asked her, her answer was no. I think thats a good sign, but dont want to read to far into it and have a problem trusting an absolute strangers word. I have read on other forums that you can have herpes with no symptoms and this worries me a great deal. So here are my questions:
1) Is there a percentage of HSV2 infected patients that show no symptoms whatsoever? If so how high is it?
2) If you show no symptoms can you just have an outbreak at any given time?
3) Is it true leg pain is a symptom of Herpes?
4) What is the best method of testing for herpes?
As well I am not sure if I should post this separately in the HIV forum but Is the risk lower on an incident where the condom breaks? i.e. Would it be lower than the 1 in 2000 you have stated on other questions.
In advance your answers are greatly appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'll answer briefly, but you're asking the most basic of all questions about genital herpes, and I don't have the time to answer them in the detail they deserve. In addition to my replies, do some background reading for fuller understanding. Good sources are at www.ashastd.org, www.westoverheights.com, and www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/std.
1) Of all people with HSV-2 (which is amost always genital), only 90% recognize that they have herpes. However, another 50%--that is, around 60% of the total--actually have subtle or mind symptoms that they just haven't noticed or paid attention to.
2) Yes. Everybody with genital herpes due to HSV-2 has periods of asymptomatic shedding of the virus, i.e. times when the infection is active and can be transmitted, but when the infected person notices nothing wrong.
3) Sometimes a genital outbreak is preceded by a 'prodrome', which can include tingling, discomfort, or shooting pain in the area where the outbreak will occur, or sometimes down a leg. Such symptoms last only 1-2 days, just before the actual oubreak starts. Continuing leg pain or leg pain without genital area blisters/sores is not a herpes symptom.
4) Herpes is diagnosed either of 2 ways. The most accurate is to see a provider when having an outbreak, when the sore(s) can be tesetd for the virus. Second choice is a blood test, which shows whether someone is infected with HSV-1, HSV-2, or both, but says nothing about where in the body the infection is located (mouth, genitals, or anal area).
The risk of catching HSV during any particular exposure, when the partner isn't having symptoms, is low. Among monogamous couples in which only one person has HSV-2, who have unprotected sex an average of 2-3 times per week, herpes is transmitted to 1 in 20 partners each year. That gives a hint about the low risk for any particular exposure such as yours.
Please read the websites noted above, then (but only then) feel free to come back if you still have any brief follow-up questions.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
1) Of all people with HSV-2 (which is amost always genital), only 90% recognize that they have herpes. However, another 50%--that is, around 60% of the total--actually have subtle or mind symptoms that they just haven't noticed or paid attention to.
2) Yes. Everybody with genital herpes due to HSV-2 has periods of asymptomatic shedding of the virus, i.e. times when the infection is active and can be transmitted, but when the infected person notices nothing wrong.
3) Sometimes a genital outbreak is preceded by a 'prodrome', which can include tingling, discomfort, or shooting pain in the area where the outbreak will occur, or sometimes down a leg. Such symptoms last only 1-2 days, just before the actual oubreak starts. Continuing leg pain or leg pain without genital area blisters/sores is not a herpes symptom.
4) Herpes is diagnosed either of 2 ways. The most accurate is to see a provider when having an outbreak, when the sore(s) can be tesetd for the virus. Second choice is a blood test, which shows whether someone is infected with HSV-1, HSV-2, or both, but says nothing about where in the body the infection is located (mouth, genitals, or anal area).
The risk of catching HSV during any particular exposure, when the partner isn't having symptoms, is low. Among monogamous couples in which only one person has HSV-2, who have unprotected sex an average of 2-3 times per week, herpes is transmitted to 1 in 20 partners each year. That gives a hint about the low risk for any particular exposure such as yours.
Please read the websites noted above, then (but only then) feel free to come back if you still have any brief follow-up questions.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
i should add i had full testing for all std's besides herpes at 20 days and all were negative.
Thank you for the answers. Checked the sites, they are very helpful. Just a bit confused to your first answer.
Only 90% notice they have herpes? I dont understand why you say only. And I am a bit confused to the additional part where you state 60% dont notice. I have been checking almost everyday and have not noticed anything. I did have a red bump that went away after a day, but I ve read herpes dont usually show in just 1. If you could clarify that first answer that would be great. That is all, thanks for the sufficient reply.
Only 90% notice they have herpes? I dont understand why you say only. And I am a bit confused to the additional part where you state 60% dont notice. I have been checking almost everyday and have not noticed anything. I did have a red bump that went away after a day, but I ve read herpes dont usually show in just 1. If you could clarify that first answer that would be great. That is all, thanks for the sufficient reply.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I meant "about 90%". I think I first wrote "only 10% notice symptoms", then changed part of the wording but not the rest. Sorry for any confusion.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
