Is There An Std Test For Herpes

How Can People Test For Herpes

A person can ask for a herpes test at any sexual health clinic or a doctors office. A healthcare professional will either swab a blister or draw a blood sample.

At-home herpes tests often require a blood sample through a finger prick.

Once a person receives their test results, they should contact a doctor to discuss treatment options, if necessary.

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What Are The Complications Of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and a herpes infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Regardless of severity of symptoms, genital herpes frequently causes psychological distress in people who know they are infected.

In addition, HSV-2 can lead to potentially fatal infections in babies. It is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy because a newly acquired infection during late pregnancy poses a greater risk of transmission to the baby. If a woman has active genital herpes at delivery, a cesarean section is usually performed. Fortunately, infection of a baby from a woman with herpes infection is rare.

Herpes may play a role in the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Herpes can make people more susceptible to HIV infection, and it can make HIV-infected individuals more likely to spread the infection to others.

The Different Types Of Herpes

Herpes, or the herpes simplex virus, is a highly contagious and common virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. You may become infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 or herpes simplex virus type 2 . Each type of virus causes unique symptoms, so its important to understand their differences.

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How Do People Get Genital Herpes

Infections are transmitted through contact with HSV in herpes lesions, mucosal surfaces, genital secretions, or oral secretions. 5 HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be shed from normal-appearing oral or genital mucosa or skin. 7,8 Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during genital contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. However, receiving oral sex from a person with an oral HSV-1 infection can result in getting a genital HSV-1 infection. 4 Transmission commonly occurs from contact with an infected partner who does not have visible lesions and who may not know that he or she is infected. 7 In persons with asymptomatic HSV-2 infections, genital HSV shedding occurs on 10.2% of days, compared to 20.1% of days among those with symptomatic infections. 8

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How Can Herpes Be Prevented

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases including genital herpes is to abstain from sexual contact, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected. As mentioned above though, herpes is particularly difficult to prevent because it can be spread through skin-to-skin contact.

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Herpes In Newborn Babies

Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can cause significant infections in newborn babies. Neonatal herpes is an uncommon but serious infection, where the herpes virus is transmitted to the baby during birth.

The risk of transmission to a newborn is highest when a woman acquires an initial herpes infection in the last 3 months of pregnancy. In such cases, a caesarean delivery is recommended.

A woman with recurrent genital herpes has a low risk of transmitting the virus to their newborn. A caesarean delivery would be considered only if visible HSV ulcers are present at the time of the delivery.

During pregnancy, to reduce the risk of infection:

• a partner with cold sores should not perform oral sex on their pregnant partner, unless the pregnant partner is known to already have HSV-1 infection.
• a partner with genital herpes should consider using suppressive antiviral therapy, condoms or dams and a good lubricant throughout their partners pregnancy.
• pregnant people with recurrent herpes may choose to take suppressive therapy during the final few weeks of pregnancy, to prevent recurrences and therefore avoid a caesarean delivery. This has been shown to be both safe and effective.

What About Mental Health

We also know that due to the stigma, learning that you are positive for herpes can impact your mental health. Research shows that people diagnosed with herpes are more likely to become depressed, withdraw socially, and experience reduced self-esteem. The shame associated with contracting herpes can make a big impact on a persons quality of life. This is despite the fact that its a common virus that affects people of all walks of life, all social circles, and all socioeconomic classes. It not only affects people who have casual sex partners but also people who limit their sexual behavior to monogamous relationships. It can even affect people who have only had one partner.

I can almost guarantee you know multiple people who have genital herpes even if no one has ever told you. Also, many cases of genital herpes occur as a result of oral sex from someone who has a history of cold sores .

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Does My Healthcare Provider Include A Blood Test For Genital Herpes When They Test Me For Everything

Herpes blood tests may or may not be part of the tests your healthcare provider gives you. They may choose tests based on several factors .

They will also evaluate you for signs or symptoms of herpes to choose which tests to use. This is why its important to talk openly and honestly with your provider during your visit. Ask them which infections they are and are not testing you for and why.

Additional Resources

Benefits And Downsides Of At

To decide if at-home genital and oral herpes testing is right for you, its important to remember that this form of testing has both benefits and downsides.

Benefits of at-home genital and oral herpes testing include:

• Transparent pricing: Costs can add up quickly when patients have testing performed in a doctors office or other medical facility. At-home testing offers transparent pricing that allows patients to rest assured that they understand the total price of genital and oral herpes testing.
• Privacy: At-home testing is private and convenient. Patients can order an at-home genital and oral herpes test kit when they want without having to make an appointment at a medical office or clinic.
• Easy to use: Testing for antibodies to HSV at home is a straightforward and simple process: order your test kit online, collect a small sample of blood from a simple finger prick using supplies contained in the test kit, and return your sample to the laboratory. Unlike testing performed by a doctor, theres no waiting room or blood draw from your arm.

The downsides of at-home genital and oral herpes testing include:

As you consider the benefits and downsides of at-home genital and oral herpes testing, it may be helpful to talk with a doctor or other health professional about testing for HSV in your specific case. It is especially important to talk with a doctor if you have active symptoms of a herpes infection.

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A Note About Suppressive Therapy For Genital Herpes

If you do test positive, taking an anti-viral drug regularly may help you avoid outbreaks and reduce viral shedding, which means you’re less likely to infect a partner. The drugs are fairly benign, says Dr. Marrazzo, but she questions whether it’s really worth treating a relatively harmless, incurable infection if it’s causing you no symptoms in the first place.

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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.

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A Very Discreet Private Std Clinic

• We offer same day or next day appointments and allow you to book your appointments online
• We now offer Instant HIV Testing! Negative Results in 20 Minutes!
• We test and treat, while others only test
• Appointments available
• Multiple locations with some open on Saturdays.
• Just tell the receptionists that you are here for “testing”
• Private consultation rooms to discuss what testing you want
• Most test results are available in 48 hours
• Private consultation with Clinician before or after testing available
• We offer early detection HIV testing
• All testing done with a simple blood sample, urine sample and/or oral tests that are done by collecting a sample from the back of the throat.
• Testing results are available in our cloud based patient portal, or you may them e-mailed to you or pick them up in-office with your photo ID.
• Clinician will call you and review all positive results.
• Your credit card statement will discreetly show payment to “e7 Health”
• We do not accept insurance, however, we do put all the insurance codes on your invoice so you can submit it to your insurance for full/partial reimbursement if it is a covered benefit.

How Do I Get Genital Herpes

Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be transferred from person to person through sexual and some non-sexual contact. Its more likely for individuals to spread or contract herpes during an outbreak when blisters are present, but herpes can still spread even when symptoms arent present. Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. Transmission can occur from an infected partner who does not have a visible sore and may not know that he or she is infected.

HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called fever blisters. You can, for instance, get herpes from kissing someone. HSV-1 infection of the genitals can be caused by oral-genital or genital-genital contact with a person who has HSV-1 infection. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.

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What Are The Symptoms

Many people have no symptoms during the initial infection or recurrences.

However, for some people, initial infections may cause:

• painful blisters, ulcers or sores
• pain and swelling in the genital area which causes difficulty in urinating
• flu-like symptoms
• small cracks in the skin
• redness or a rash

How To Choose The Right Test For You

With dozens of at-home testing kits available, it can be hard to choose the right one. After all, what does a good at-home STD testing kit look like? What should it entail? What do you need?

Theres no one-size-fits-all answer. Your needs will vary depending on your situation and circumstances. Also, they may change over time.

This chart can help you determine which type of test is right for you.

You should talk with a doctor if one of your partners has recently tested positive for an STD or STI or if youre experiencing possible symptoms of an STI.

Also, the recommends STD screenings from a healthcare professional for the following cases:

• You are between 13 and 64 years old and have never been tested for HIV.
• You share needles. Your doctor may recommend annual HIV testing.
• You have sex without a condom or other barrier methods. Your doctor may recommend annual HIV testing.
• Sexually active people who were assigned female at birth and under 25 may need annual chlamydia and gonorrhea testing.
• Sexually active people assigned male at birth who have sex with others assigned male at birth may need testing as frequently as every 3 to 6 months.
• You are pregnant. Your doctor will test you for hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV and syphilis.

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What Happens At A Sexual Health Clinic

The doctor or nurse at the sexual health clinic will:

• ask about your symptoms and your sexual partners
• use a small cotton bud to take some fluid from 1 of your blisters or sores for testing

The test cannot:

• be done if you do not have visible blisters or sores
• tell you how long you have had herpes or who you got it from

Symptoms might not appear for weeks or even years after you’re infected with the herpes virus.

Best Affordable Herpes Test: Healthlabs

HealthLabs offers laboratory-based herpes tests. These may be the best option for people who do not have health insurance and those working with small budgets.

After placing an order, the person receives a laboratory requisition form, which they need to print out and present at a laboratory. The company claims it has 4,500 laboratory locations, and individuals should receive their test results within 23 business days.

HealthLabs has three herpes tests available for purchase:

• a test for HSV-1, which costs $45
• a test for HSV-2, which costs $45
• a test for HSV-1 and HSV-2, which costs $79

People may also order at-home tests for other STIs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV.

To order either herpes test, a person must access the company website and enter their ZIP code to find their nearest testing center.

The company claims it has over 4,000 private test centers across the United States.

After ordering the herpes test, a person can walk into their local center to receive the testing. An appointment is not necessary.

The test procedure involves a simple blood test and urine sample, which typically takes a matter of minutes. A person can expect to receive their online test results within 13 days.

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When Should You Consider Getting Tested

Herpes is a sneaky, deceitful virus. It hides deep inside your nerve cells for unpredictable periods of time before triggering visible symptoms. In many cases, it infects the body and spreads to others without any obvious signs at all. As many as 90 percent of people infected with herpes are unaware they have the virus because theyve never experienced an outbreak.

People who dont have symptoms are more likely to transmit the herpes virus through a phenomenon known as asymptomatic shedding. This occurs when the virus sheds from the skin and spreads to others, even when no sores are present. Asymptomatic shedding is undetectable as there are no signs or symptoms, but its real.

According to research, at least 70% of infected people experience asymptomatic shedding of HSV-1 at least once a month. Many may even shed the herpes virus without symptoms more than six times per month.

Given that the herpes virus doesnt always trigger outbreaks and symptoms, testing is an important way to monitor your health. The CDC recommends testing if you are experiencing symptoms that could be related to herpes or if you recently had sex with a new partner who has genital herpes.

Remember, its possible that early herpes symptoms may not seem related to herpes. An initial herpes outbreak causes flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, fever and chills. These symptoms may be paired with pain, itching and redness around the affected area.

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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.

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Nonetheless Asymptomatic Individuals Can Still Pass Herpes On And You Could Be One Of Them Even If You Obtain Regular Std Testing

Many doctors also donât inform patients that the test is not included, so when people do have symptoms and receive a diagnosis, there can be feelings of confusion and worry about whether a partner was dishonest or cheated, when their partner simply may not have known about the infection. In fact, by the time some people are diagnosed, it can be very difficult to determine how long theyâve had the infection. This means they may not have contracted it from their current partner.