Monday, March 18, 2024

How Do You Test For Oral Herpes

What Happens During A Herpes Test

HSV 1 Does Not Mean You Have Oral Herpes

If you have blisters or sores, your doctor or nurse will gently take a sample of fluid from the sores with a swab and test it.

If you dont have any sores, talk with your doctor or nurse about whether a blood test for herpes makes sense for you. But herpes tests aren’t normally recommended unless you do have symptoms.

The idea of getting tested may seem scary, but try to chill out. STD testing is a regular part of being a responsible adult and taking care of your health. And herpes tests are quick and usually painless.

Are Test Results Accurate

Tests that identify evidence of HSV infections are routine and commonly used medical tests. The ability of a test to accurately diagnose or rule out HSV infection depends on the test used for analysis and the stage of a patients infection.

The Tzanck smear and viral culture are less able to accurately identify patients who have an HSV infection than other tests. PCR testing and antibody testing are more sensitive, which means that they miss fewer cases of infection.

Blood tests that detect antibodies to HSV can distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2 but not the site of infection. This means that blood tests cannot tell whether a patient has a genital or oral herpes infection.

Although these tests are valuable for identifying HSV infection, no test is perfect. When learning of test results, patients should talk to their doctor about the type of test conducted, the reliability of test results, and if additional tests are necessary to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.

How Serious Is It

If 50 percent of the current adult population has oral herpes, your odds of having come into contact with the virus are fairly high. Though the disease may cause some discomfort, it is not very serious.

The CDC doesnt even recommend testing for herpes! They state, the risk of shaming and stigmatizing people outweighs the potential benefits. For these reasons, testing everyone for herpes is not recommended at this time.3

Recommended Reading: How Does The Herpes Virus Work

Get Herpes Treatment Online

Do you think you have herpes? Antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir can help shorten the length and lessen the severity of your symptoms, and you do not need to visit your doctors office for these treatments.

At PlushCare, you can schedule an online doctors appointment. After talking to one of our licensed doctors through a video or phone call, your doctor will determine if you would benefit from any antiviral medication. Then, they can electronically send it to your pharmacy, where you can pick it up as soon as its ready.

You could get herpes treatment online as soon as today. Schedule an appointment with a trusted PlushCare doctor now!

How Can Herpes Be Tested/checked

Natural Herpes Treatment Remove Herpes Naturally !

Better2Know has three ways of testing for the Herpes virus:

  • Blood Test if you have no symptoms
  • Urine Test if you currently have symptoms
  • Swab Test if you have a blister or other lesion for swabbing to see if it is caused by HSV.

At Better2Know, you can choose your test method: urine or a swab if you have symptoms, and blood if you do not. Results are available within 25 working days from us receiving your sample depending on which sample is taken. The test will tell you whether you have HSV-1, HSV-2, both types or neither.

At selected private sexual health clinics, Better2Know also provides instant Herpes testing. With this exclusive, popular Herpes testing option, you will receive your results from 10 minutes after sample collection.

You can also get a Home Sample Collection Kit by visiting our Home STI Tests page.

Also Check: What To Do If I Think I Have Herpes

Can Herpes Simplex Virus Cause Serious Infections

Yes. The most serious, or life-threatening, HSV infections can occur in newborns who are infected during birth and in individuals with weakened immune systems , such as organ transplant recipients and people with HIV/AIDS. Neonatal herpes is a serious condition, but also very rare. While 25-30% of pregnant women have genital herpes, less than 0.1% of babies born in the U.S. each year get neonatal herpes. This means that most women with genital herpes give birth to healthy babies.

HSV lesions tend to be more extensive and persist longer in newborns and immunocompromised people than in individuals who have healthy immune systems.

If A Pregnant Woman Gets Genital Herpes Is There A Chance Her Baby Can Get Infected

Yes. Even though adults with genital herpes may not have any symptoms, herpes infections in babies can be life-threatening. Women who get genital herpes during late pregnancy have a very high risk for having a baby with herpes infection, and these women may not even know they are infected. Women who get herpes during early pregnancy, or who are infected before they get pregnant can also spread herpes to their babies. Most babies with herpes get infected as they come into contact with the herpes virus while passing through the birth canal, but infection can also occur before birth or in the weeks after birth.

If you are pregnant and think that you or your partner may have genital herpes, tell your doctor. Your doctor can order testing and can talk to you about ways to lower your babys risk for infection.

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How Does Genital Herpes Affect A Pregnant Woman And Her Baby

Neonatal herpes is one of the most serious complications of genital herpes.5,16 Healthcare providers should ask all pregnant women if they have a history of genital herpes.11 Herpes infection can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth, or babies may be infected shortly after birth, resulting in a potentially fatal neonatal herpes infection. 17 Infants born to women who acquire genital herpes close to the time of delivery and are shedding virus at delivery are at a much higher risk for developing neonatal herpes, compared with women who have recurrent genital herpes . 16,18-20 Thus, it is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. Women should be counseled to abstain from intercourse during the third trimester with partners known to have or suspected of having genital herpes. 5,11

How To Get Rid Of Herpes Naturally

Should You Take A Herpes Blood Test?

Not every person with a herpes infection actually experiences breakouts of cold sores throughout his or her lifetime or even after initially becoming infected. How often someone has a herpes cold sore outbreak, how severe the outbreaks are, how contagious someone is after infection and how long the sores take to heal all depend on someones individual immune response.

1. Boost Nutrient Intake

If youre going to keep the herpes virus from frequently causing outbreaks, the first step in how to get rid of herpes is to improve immune function by boosting nutrient intake. Include these healing foods in your diet to keep the virus dormant as much as possible:

2. Avoid Inflammatory Foods

Certain foods can raise inflammation, weaken immune defenses and make skin irritation even worse. Avoid the following foods as much as possible to limit outbreak severity and duration.

3. Consider Supplements

  • Antiviral herbs: These include elderberry, calendula, echinacea, garlic, astragalus and licorice root.
  • L-lysine : Can help treat and prevent outbreaks.
  • Lemon balm extract: Apply as a topical cream for healing.
  • Vitamin C : Vitamin C boosts immune function improving herpes.
  • Zinc : Zinc benefits include supporting immune function, keeping viruses dormant and rebuilding skin tissue to speed up healing.
  • B-complex : B vitamins help your body deal with stress and can prevent outbreaks.

4. Try Essential Oils

5. Ease Cold Sore Pain Naturally

Related: How to Use Witch Hazel to Clear Up Your Skin Fast

Read Also: What Types Of Herpes Are There

When Is It Ordered

HSV PCR testing or herpes culture may be ordered when you have signs and symptoms of a herpes infection, such as a blister or blisters on or around your eye, mouth, genitals or rectum.

Herpes PCR testing may be ordered when you have signs and symptoms of encephalitis that a healthcare practitioner suspects may be caused by a virus. Examples of these signs and symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Lethargy

Prenatal and newborn testing

  • A pregnant woman who has been diagnosed with herpes may be monitored regularly prior to delivery to detect a reactivation of her infection.
  • A baby born to a mother who has active lesions during delivery may be tested before symptoms appear to assess whether the baby was exposed to HSV during delivery.
  • A mother and newborn may be tested for HSV soon after delivery when a baby shows signs of HSV infection, such as meningitis or skin lesions that could be caused by the herpes virus.

HSV antibody testing may be done when your healthcare practitioner wants to determine if you have been exposed to HSV in the past.

When To Seek Medical Care

When to call the doctor

  • Because the sores are painful, you may have difficulty eating or drinking. To prevent dehydration, call your doctor as soon as you cannot eat or drink.
  • Call your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms, which suggest dehydration, occur:
  • A decrease in urination
  • Drowsiness
  • Dry mouth
  • If your child is younger than 8 weeks, notify your doctor when sores appear. Severe infection or disease complications occur more commonly in infants. For instance, besides affecting the mouth, the herpes simplex virus may go to the brain and produce damage.
  • People whose immune systems are weakened should also call their doctor when sores appear. Your immune system protects you from infection or fights infection. If your system is weakened, you are more likely to have severe infection or disease complication.
  • When to go to the hospital

    Signs and symptoms of dehydration may warrant going to a hospital’s emergency department.

    Also Check: Can You Have Herpes And Test Negative

    What Does The Test Result Mean

    Direct detection of the virus

    • A positive HSV DNA test or culture indicates that you have an active herpes infection, and the result may indicate if it is HSV-1 or HSV-2.
    • A negative PCR test or culture indicates that the herpes simplex virus was not detected, but this does not definitely rule out an infection. False negatives can occur if there is not enough active virus in the sample. This may happen if the lesion is cultured more than 48 hours after the symptoms appear. If suspicion of herpes remains high, repeat testing may be done.

    Antibody blood tests

    • A positive HSV-1 or HSV-2 IgG antibody test means antibodies are present in your blood, which means you have had an infection in the past even if you haven’t noticed any symptoms. The type of antibody detected indicates the type of HSV infection.
    • Negative HSV antibody results mean that it is unlikely that you have been exposed to HSV or it may mean that your body has not had time to begin producing HSV antibodies.

    Will I Have To Pay For The Test Out Of Pocket

    Herpes Cure

    Youll have to check with your insurance network to see whether at-home STI tests are covered.

    Insurance does typically cover them, but sites like Everlywell recommend verifying the purchase with your insurance.

    Additionally, some networks may reimburse you for your purchase.

    However, most at-home testing sites arent currently partnered with any insurance companies, which means youll have to reach out yourself.

    If you dont have insurance, youll likely have to pay for the test out of pocket. Some sites like Priority STD dont accept insurance, so its a flat rate of $99 regardless of your coverage.

    Read Also: How To Treat Herpes Sores On Buttocks

    Im Pregnant How Could Genital Herpes Affect My Baby

    If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, it is very important for you to go to prenatal care visits. Tell your doctor if you have ever had symptoms of, or have been diagnosed with, genital herpes. Also tell your doctor if you have ever been exposed to genital herpes. There is some research that suggests that genital herpes infection may lead to miscarriage, or could make it more likely for you to deliver your baby too early.

    Herpes infection can be passed from you to your unborn child before birth but is more commonly passed to your infant during delivery. This can lead to a potentially deadly infection in your baby . It is important that you avoid getting herpes during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, you may be offered anti-herpes medicine towards the end of your pregnancy. This medicine may reduce your risk of having signs or symptoms of genital herpes at the time of delivery. At the time of delivery, your doctor should carefully examine you for herpes sores. If you have herpes symptoms at delivery, a C-section is usually performed.

    How To Get Rid Of Herpes Symptoms Naturally

    By Joe Boland

    Herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases , prompting many to wonder how to get rid of herpes naturally.

    The herpes virus can live dormant inside a persons immune system for a lifetime, periodically causing blisters that burst and turn into open cold sores or ulcers before healing. When left alone, herpes cold sores usually last about 1014 days and are uncomfortable for a variety of reasons causing redness, pain, burning and often embarrassment.

    Many people wonder if there is a natural cure for herpes or are looking for ways on how to get rid of herpes for good. While technically the virus that causes herpes is not curable, there are many natural herpes remedies that can put herpes into remission. In fact, many people with herpes dont experience any symptoms at all, especially long term, once they learn to manage triggers of outbreaks. So while theres no guide for how to get rid of herpes naturally, there is a method for how to get rid of herpes symptoms the natural way and keep breakouts at bay.

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    When Should I See A Doctor

    If you have a primary care doctor who you regularly see, you can share your results with them to provide better insight on your next steps.

    If you dont have a primary care doctor, you can consult with a physician or nurse from the testing site about treatment options.

    If youve been treating your symptoms with medication and are still in pain or discomfort, reach out to a healthcare professional.

    Causes Of Herpes Esophagitis

    Understanding Herpes Testing

    Herpes Esophagitis can be caused by either the herpes simplex I or the herpes simplex II viruses. It is more commonly caused by the oral herpes variant but it does also show up as simplex II less often.

    Oral Herpes

    Oral herpes or HSV-1 is most often passed through infected saliva swapping from individual to individual. It is important to get tested for both strains of HSV and alert any potential sexual partners if you test positive. Oral herpes can be passed from the mouth to the genitals if oral sex is performed during an active outbreak.

    Genital Herpes

    Genital herpes can cause herpes esophagitis in cases where an individual performs oral sex on another individual with an active HSV-2 outbreak. Protection like a condom or dental dam can help prevent transmission of HSV-2 so if you suspect you have a HSV-2 infection and are going to engage in sexual intercourse be sure to use proper protection.

    Reasons why an immune system might be compromised include:

    • chemotherapy

    • immune system suppressing medications and treatments

    • other immune suppressing conditions

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    What Happens If I Dont Get Treated

    Genital herpes can cause painful genital sores and can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems.

    If you touch your sores or the fluids from the sores, you may transfer herpes to another part of your body, such as your eyes. Do not touch the sores or fluids to avoid spreading herpes to another part of your body. If you do touch the sores or fluids, immediately wash your hands thoroughly to help avoid spreading your infection.

    If you are pregnant, there can be problems for you and your developing fetus, or newborn baby. See Im pregnant. How could genital herpes affect my baby? above for information about this.

    What If You Test Positive

    If you test positive for herpes, then you have the herpes virus. There is no way of knowing whether you have oral herpes or genital herpes unless the symptoms occur orally or genitally. As there is no cure for herpes, there is nothing that can be done to cure the virus, except to treat symptoms as they occur.

    Also Check: How Long Is Herpes Contagious

    Questions For Your Doctor About Test Results

    The following questions may be useful as patients review genital and oral herpes test results with their doctor:

    • What type of test was conducted?
    • What is my test result?
    • What is the most likely explanation for my test result?
    • Are there any follow-up tests that you recommend?
    • How should I discuss my test result with sexual partners?

    Can I Still Have Sex If I Have Herpes

    Get Rid of Herpes Forever

    If you have herpes, you should talk to your sex partner and let him or her know that you do and the risk involved. Using condoms may help lower this risk but it will not get rid of the risk completely. Having sores or other symptoms of herpes can increase your risk of spreading the disease. Even if you do not have any symptoms, you can still infect your sex partners.

    You may have concerns about how genital herpes will impact your overall health, sex life, and relationships. It is best for you to talk to a health care provider about those concerns, but it also is important to recognize that while herpes is not curable, it can be managed with medication. Daily suppressive therapy for herpes can also lower your risk of spreading genital herpes to your sex partner. Be sure to discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider. Since a genital herpes diagnosis may affect how you will feel about current or future sexual relationships, it is important to understand how to talk to sexual partners about STDsexternal icon.

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