If Visible Here Are Some Of The More Common Signs Of An Hsv
Vaginal or Pelvic Infection:
- Swelling or discomfort in the groin nodes
- Headaches, body aches or flu-like symptoms
Remember, both oral and genital herpes can be spread even if sores are not present.Most cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-2, but if you participate in oral sex, keep in mind that the oral variety of HSV can still cause genital herpes. So it pays to test regularly and be honest with your partners.
A test for herpes may be done to:
- Find out whether HSV is causing sores around the mouth or in the genital area.
- Find out which virus type is causing sores around the mouth or in the genital area.
- Find out whether the sex partner of a person with genital herpes may be infected with HSV.
- Diagnose a herpes infection in a newborn baby whose mother has genital herpes.
Also Check: How To Deal With Herpes On Lips
At Home Sexually Transmitted Infection Tests
We offer testing kits you can take at home for a range of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, syphilis and HIV. Test results are confidential and come back in 3 working days. Well advise you on next steps.
We offer testing kits you can take at home for a range of sexually transmitted infections including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomonas, syphilis and HIV. Test results are confidential and come back in 3 working days. Well advise you on next steps.
Due to Royal Mail strike action, we cant guarantee our usual delivery, postage and result timeframe. So there may be delays to test kit deliveries, the time they take getting back to lab and how quickly you get your results.
We Are Award Winning Experts In Sexual And Reproductive Health
Working in partnership with the NHS, we provide STI testing, diagnosis and treatment, oral contraception, the morning after pill and specialist remote clinical support.
We put people at the heart of what we do. We design services that are easier to use, access and understand.
We are not-for-profit and passionate about delivering discreet, convenient and clinically safe experiences. Find out more about SH:24.
Our brands include Fettle.health, which offers users the choice of paying for sexual and reproductive health services online.
You May Like: Herpes At Home Test Kit
How Does A Herpes Test Work
A herpes test may require a swab sample, a blood test or both.
Swab tests involve taking a swab sample from an active sore in or around the mouth and/or genitals. A swab sample can either be collected by a healthcare professional or by you in the comfort of your own home using an at home herpes test. Swab tests are often the first port of call when it comes to diagnosing or confirming either oral or genital . If symptoms are present , this will likely be the test used.
Blood tests involve taking a blood sample. The type of herpes blood test used is a virus culture, also known as a PCR test. PCR tests look for pieces of the viruss DNA and are very accurate. A PCR test will be able to diagnose herpes even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. It is a very accurate herpes test. Other blood tests on the market test the blood for antibodies that are produced in reaction to the virus.
The two antibodies that are tested for include IgM and IgG. IgG antibodies appear shortly after you become infected with herpes and stay in the body for life, whereas IgM levels will typically decrease shortly after the initial infection. IgG testing is more accurate than IgM testing.
Recommended Reading: What Does Herpes Look Like In Your Mouth
What Is The Difference Between An Sti And An Std
Though these terms are often used interchangeably, they donât actually mean exactly the same thing. STD â or âsexually transmitted disease” â is a common term used to describe an infection that is passed on through sexual contact, and becomes a disease after a certain point of severity. STI stands for âsexually transmitted infection.â Many people, mostly within the medical community, have begun transitioning from âSTDâ to âSTIâ in an effort to clarify that not all sexually transmitted infections turn into a disease.
You May Like: Is There Any Treatment For Genital Herpes
Who Should Take The Herpes Blood Test
Although there are certain risk groups who are particularly affected by herpes, such as those having unprotected sex, people with prior STIs, and those with a compromised immune system, anyone can become infected with the virus. This being said, the virus is often found in sexually active people having more sexual partners increases your risk of becoming infected.
In general, herpes lab tests are also recommended for people who experience symptoms or whose partner has tested positive for herpes.
How Can You Interpret The Results Of A Hormone Test For Men
After you have a hormone test, its important to understand how to interpret the results. If you get any abnormal results, then youll need to talk with a health professional to discuss what your next steps should be. Different hormones interact with each other, so the results of all of the different tests need to be considered as a whole.
One option is to visit your regular doctor and talk with them about your test results. However, when you do an at home male hormone test, youll usually be given the opportunity to discuss your results with a medical professional via telemedicine. This will allow you to ask any questions that you may have, and to decide what your next steps should be.
Read Also: What Can Look Like Herpes
Recommended Reading: What Is The First Stage Of Herpes
What Are Stds That You Can Test With This Method
You can order the following test kits through our website:
Chlamydia and Gonorhea:
As per CDC, these are the most common type of STDs in the United States. Both Chlamydia and Gonorrhea require urine samples for the testing. Their infections are usually unnoticeable, but they can cause complications further down the road like PID and infertility.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C:
These viral infections can lead to severe liver inflammation and damage it permanently. As STDs, you can treat the infections with antiviral medications. However, hepatitis C is incurable. In addition to sexual transmission, you can contract hepatitis C with sharing of syringes too. The test for this infection requires your blood sample.
HPV:
The human papillomavirus is another common STD in the U.S. Its symptoms can cause harm to your mouth, throat, and genital areas. This test is for women of the age of 30 or above.
Trichomoniasis:
This infection is a common STD that infects many sexually wild young women. Antibiotic medications are effective against the disease. For this test, you will need to provide a urine sample.
HIV:
HIV is one of the leading causes of death among STDs. It can lead to AIDS after some years of infection and severely weakens your immune system. To check if you are HIV negative or positive, you will have to provide a blood sample.
Genital Herpes:
You Got A Positive Herpes Test Now What
If you receive a positive herpes test, start by educating yourself about the herpes virus. There are many pervasive herpes myths that you shouldnt believe. The truth is that herpes is treatable and outbreaks can even be minimized or prevented with the right treatment measures.
Genital herpes and cold sores can both be addressed with a variety of household remedies, over-the-counter options, and prescription medications.
Acyclovir, for example, is an antiviral medication that treats infections caused by the herpes simplex virus, including genital herpes. Its best to start taking acyclovir as soon as you notice the first signs of an emerging outbreak. This medication stops the herpes virus from growing and spreading during an outbreak, although it cannot remove the virus from your body completely. Most people experience relief within just a few days of taking acyclovir.
If youre looking for a natural therapy to control herpes outbreaks, the Luminance RED is another option. The Luminance RED handheld devices shine red wavelengths of light over the skin of affected areas. The company has one device designed for oral herpes and one for genital herpes.
Medically-optimized red light is metabolized to accelerate the bodys healing process and strengthen its defenses against future attacks. Studies show that regular use of high-powered light treatment not only shortens the healing time of active outbreaks but can also prevent future outbreaks altogether.
You May Like: How You Get Tested For Herpes
Is There Another Type Of Over The Counter Herpes Test
Another way to test for herpes is to test the fluid from a blister when you have one. However, this type of test requires you to wait until you have a herpes outbreak before you test for herpes. This makes it unsuitable as a screening test.
In addition, because herpes causes a distinctive appearance, having herpes blisters is usually a good indication that you have herpes. Doctors often dont even test the blisters, because they can tell its herpes by the appearance. Because of this, a home test kit for herpes blisters would probably not be very useful.
For these reasons, this type of herpes test is not available over the counter. The only type of genital herpes home test kit thats generally available is the blood test for antibodies to the virus.
How Do You Test For Herpes
Herpes testing can be done as a swab test, blood test, or lumbar puncture. A swab test can be done by a healthcare provider, or by yourself at home.
The herpes home test kit can detect both HSV-1 and HSV-2, as both strains of the virus can cause genital herpes. It involves the collection of fluid and cells from sores using the swab. The swab is then sent to a laboratory for testing, and the results will be ready in a few days.
For many people, ordering a herpes home test kit is better than going to a sexual health clinic, offering the convenience and privacy of testing yourself in the comfort of your own home.
You May Like: Can Campho Phenique Be Used For Genital Herpes
How Common Is Genital Herpes
Results of a nationally representative study show that genital herpes infection is common in the United States. Nationwide, at least 45 million people ages 12 and older or one out of five adolescents and adults have genital herpes. Over the past decade, the percentage of Americans with HSV-1 has decreased, however that also means people are more susceptible to contracting genitals herpes from HSV-1.
Genital HSV-2 infection is more common in women than in men . This is because male-to-female transmission is more likely than female-to-male transmission.
Donât Miss: How Effective Is Herpes Medicine
Test Results For Herpes
If the results of your herpes tests are positive you will may to begin a course of genital herpes treatment. You may wish to visit a sexual health clinic and discuss the next steps with a health professional.
Alternatively, contact your online or high street pharmacy. At Chemist Click, we have a medical team that you can talk to about your next steps after a positive test result, and answer any questions you may have. We can prescribe herpes treatments online, and send them via our discreet courier service. This includes treatments such as aciclovir tablets and valaciclovir tablets. However, because there is no cure for herpes, treatments only diminish and ease the symptoms as well as reduce the number of outbreaks therefore your symptoms may come and go in the form of flare-ups. You should use treatment at the first sign of an outbreak. If you are experiencing outbreaks on a regular basis, you should discuss the option of taking treatment on a long term basis, which can help to reduce the number of outbreaks you experience.
It is important to inform any recent sexual partners of your diagnosis so that they can get tested.
While herpes is a lifetime condition, you are most contagious when experiencing an outbreak. You should avoid sexual contact while experiencing an outbreak, and for up to one week after. If you do engage in sexual activity, you should use barrier methods such as condoms or dams to cover the genitals.
You May Like: Do Herpes Outbreaks Eventually Stop
When To Test For Herpes
You should consider getting a herpes test if:
- You experience herpes symptoms such as small white blisters or red bumps in the genital area
- Pain in the genital area
- Itching in the genital area
- Ulcers in the genital area
- Sores or blisters around the mouth after you have had oral sex
- You have had unprotected sex
- You have a sex partner who has herpes
- You have multiple sex partners and havent been tested recently
- Your sex partner has multiple other sex partners and hasnt been tested recently
The best time to get tested for herpes is after 12 days, which is the length of the incubation period for the infection. However, if you have had an initial outbreak, you should get tested right away. If you think you have been exposed to herpes, you should stop all sexual activity until you can be diagnosed.
Collect Your Blood Sample
Its best to collect your blood samples in the morning, so you can send it back to the lab on the same day. Heres a guide for the finger prick blood test:
Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Herpes Outbreak
A Lot Of People Have It Already
Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but a lot of people have herpes and just dont know that they do. According to the World Health Organization, 67% of the population under the age of 50 has HSV-1. Thats 3.7 billion people, people!
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, about one in six people between 14 and 49 years old in the U.S. currently has genital herpes. While weve been systematically trained to believe having herpes means being covered in sores for life, this is not the case for the vast majority of people. In fact, its estimated that up to 90% of people with HSV-2 are never diagnosed. They simply never wind up having an outbreak.
Something important to note is that even if you dont have symptoms, you can still spread HSV. Herpes is most infectious during an active breakout , but it can still be spread when there are no soresmedically known as shedding the virus.
You May Like: Can You Give Plasma With Herpes
How To Diagnose Herpes
Genital herpes is typically diagnosed through examination by a medical professional and a blood test. If you suspect you have genital herpes , you can take an antibody test.
To test for 6 other common STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, try the Everlywell home STD Test for women or the STD Test for men. After you collect your sample at home, it is received and analyzed at the lab, and the test results are sent to you quickly and discreetly via our secure, online platform.
Don’t Miss: How Do I Not Spread Herpes To My Partner
How Often To Test For Stds
The frequency of necessary STD testing really varies based on how sexually active you are and if youâre currently outside of a monogamous relationship. The Centers for Disease Control recommends every 3-12 months depending on risk category, but most medical professionals would agree that a yearly STD test is the minimum responsible frequency and testing should be done more ifâand whenâyou engage in unprotected sex with a new partner. Preventing the spread of STIs and STDs is everybodyâs responsibility and knowing your status is a great way to do your part while also keeping yourself and your partner healthy.
Our STD Test suite is taken in the privacy of your own home and covers many common sexually transmitted diseases including:
- Human immunodeficiency virus
This Everlywell at-home STD Test requires two samplesâblood spot and vaginal swab. All necessary components are included inside the kit. We provide easy-to-read instructions, as well as helpful digital videos on the process, and the collection process is quick. Simply follow a few steps and return your at-sample to our lab for processing.
Can I Take A Herpes Test If I Dont Have Symptoms
The Herpes test has been designed to test people who are symptomatic and requires a lesion swab to be rubbed gently and painlessly over an active lesion, sore, or ulcer.
If you believe you have been exposed to an STI, but do not have symptoms, you can order a different test such as our 7-panel STI test, HIV & Syphilis test, Chlamydia & Gonorrhoea test, Syphilis test, HIV Test, and/or Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C & HIV Test.
Also Check: How Do You Keep Herpes From Spreading
Heres Why Doctors Dont Usually Test For Herpes
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? No. Is it a vital part of looking after your health, sexual and otherwise? Absolutely.
When you go in for routine STI testing, you might realize that your doctor doesnt test you for herpes. Whats that about? As it turns out, testing for herpes isnt as straightforward as testing for something like chlamydia or gonorrhea. Here, doctors explain why herpes isnt usually included on STI panels.