Its basically a SELF mantra at this point: Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections is hella important.
Is it the most delightful way to spend your time?
Is it a vital part of looking after your health,sexualand otherwise?
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When you go in for routineSTI testing, you might realize that your doctor doesnt test you forherpes.
As it turns out, testing for herpes isnt as straightforward as testing for something likechlamydia or gonorrhea.
Here, doctors explain why herpes isnt usually included on STI panels.
But thats not the full picture.
Both viruses can infect either your mouth or your genitals through skin-to-skin contact, theCDCexplains.
You might think these signs would make it really obvious thatsomethingis up with your health if you have herpes.
But its also entirely possible to have herpes without exhibiting any symptoms at all.
The virus can lie dormant in the body without ever making itself known.
Thats why so many people haveherpeswithout realizing it, theCDCexplains.
This high prevalence makes sense because many people actually get the virus from nonsexual contact as children, theCDCexplains.
So, about genital herpes.
You may have heard thatone in six peoplehas this infection.
Thats around one in six.
Overall, it does seem that HSV-2 rates are declining, although there is not a clear reason why.
Why doctors dont automatically test you for herpes
OK, clearly herpes is super common.
So why dont doctors automatically test for it when you ask to get tested for everything?
To answer that question, its important to understand the difference between STItestingand STIscreening.
Doctors will screen for STIs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia even in the absence of symptoms.
This happens when an untreated STI like gonorrhea or chlamydia infects reproductive organs, possibly leading to infertility.
Experts dont screen for herpes for a few reasons.
Preventative [Services] Task Forcehas recommended against screening asymptomatic adolescents and adults for HSV infections.
Sometimes, though, a doctor in this scenario will decide to perform tests just to be sure.
As theCDCnotes, these tests are becoming more popular because they are more sensitive than the usual viral swabs.
That test has excellent specificity, meaning it very rarely has false positives, Dr. Johnston says.
What if youre not experiencing symptoms but really want a herpes test anyway, just to know your status?
Your doctor could take a blood sample to look for the presence of herpes antibodies.
Antibodies are proteins your immune system creates when youve been exposed to something harmful, according to theU.S.
National Library of Medicine.
Lets say you test positive but will never have an outbreak in your life.
Due to unfair herpes stigma, that might be pointlessly stressful.
Antibodies mean that you have HSV in your body.
Its just your bodys way of controlling the virus.
Or you could get a false negative and actually have herpes antibodies in your system but not know it.
The most commonly used antibody test can have false-positive results.
Only after testing positive at that point does she recommend disclosing to sexual partners that you have herpes.
That really is a lot of energy to [expend].
(you’re able to shed the virus even when you dont have symptoms.)
So how do you process that information?
The first step is practicing the same safe sex that you know helps protect you from other STIs.
It is important for people to know their status so they can protect themselves and their partners.
If you have sex (even with a condom) you might get herpes.
The important thing is not to panic, Dr. Bard says.
The truth is that having herpes simply means you have a viral infection.
We know thatherpes stigmaabounds, and its not as simple as just telling you not to care about it.
Dont tell yourself youre excluded from all that greatness due to one tiny virus.
