mcf1971

I think the fact that there's no cure is more of an argument against screening. So they find out 16% of the population have it.. all those people suffer the same psychological anguish that we all went through, yet the doctor says 'yea, so now you know... bye'. In the UK, the health service is government (under)funded and overloaded -- they cant afford to fund an unreliable test, that will quite often show results in the equivocal range, or give a false result. Also, 50% of new genital cases are hsv1, but almost everyone is positive for that after a blood test. HIV is different since the test is 99% reliable after a few weeks, plus it's life-threatening. HPV can also be life threatening, and fortunately the smear test is pretty reliable can be done at any time. We will have to agree to disagree. There is no cure because there is not enough incentive for a cure so the more people the bigger the incentive for them to do something about it. There is a HUGE stigma attached to this and, again, a major way to diminish that would be by increasing public awareness of the problem. Also, it probably wouldn't be such a huge anguish if we knew more about the problem. the numbers are not 16%, that's what you think they are. I met with 2 doctors specialists in the field and they agreed that numbers are much higher than that...they all know that, especially as we age. It just goes on and on and on.... The bottom line is that I believe that knowledge is power and there is a lot of power in numbers. Everybody looses by the status quo on the issue. For me, it's a true nightmare. I've had quite a few health problems due to this. I can't imagine telling anybody about these numbers because I know they are a lie. I don't want to ever pass this on to someone else. I already had other health issues and life circumstances that were very difficult prior to this and I feel so incredibly exposed by having to revel and talk about this with anybody that I may want to date in the future, etc, etc.... I would not want to date someone who has herpes!

On the other hand, we see many false results here and people thinking their life is over just because their blood contains hsv1 antibodies. It may well cause more confusion and grief than it would prevent, not to mention the cost. Most other infections are covered in the basic panel and they are all ,except for HIV, curable. Why not herpes that has no cure and we, the ones infected, often did not have a choice/chance to protect ourselves or pass it on to others. I think the test should at least ALWAYS be offered AND ENCOURAGED! Even for people to be even more aware of the risk of safer sex and the risk to being infected or passing on the disease. The doctor that diagnosed me didn't say anything and just because I was asking when he left the room, he said that I was going to have flu symptoms. There is so much ignorance in the medical community. It's not even funny! The cost is not that high either and again, why do they pay for other STD's and not herpes?!?!

On the other hand, we see many false results here and people thinking their life is over just because their blood contains hsv1 antibodies. It may well cause more confusion and grief than it would prevent, not to mention the cost. Most other infections are covered in the basic panel and they are all ,except for HIV, curable. Why not herpes that has no cure and we, the ones infected, often did not have a choice/chance to protect ourselves or pass it on to others. I think the test should at least ALWAYS be offered AND ENCOURAGED! Even for people to be even more aware of the risk of safer sex and the risk to being infected or passing on the disease. The doctor that diagnosed me didn't say anything and just because I was asking when he left the room, he said that I was going to have flu symptoms. There is so much ignorance in the medical community. It's not even funny!

This is why I went to the CDC website to get their email and politely asked for them to make it a standard test for STDs. If it had been standard myself and thousands of others would not be currently infected. They are called the Center for Disease CONTROL. For them to not recommend it be included in STD screening is unacceptable. HSV causes emotional trauma, risk to pregnancy, and, for many, severe physical pain. Absolutely!!! Their info is so incredibly misleading that we are all in the dark and that is the truth! I keep thinking of time when I might have to disclose to someone who does not have it and what will I tell them?!?!

It drives me crazy when I see these statistics about the rates of infection. Women to men 4% - Men to women 8% With condoms Women to men 2% and Men to women 4% Wth condoms and medication - Women to men 1% and Men to women 2% DO NOT TRUST THESE NUMBERS!!!! THEY ARE VERY INNACURATE. There is not enough research in this area and these numbers came from a national sensus that does not take into consideration at the data related to the infection. For example, the genital rates number only come from HSV 2 infection and they don't take into consideration the infections caused by HSV 1 and we know that most genital infections are being caused by HSV 1 these days. Also, we have no idea of how many people out there are infected because most of them don't have symptons and herpes testing is not part of the standard STD testing and many people don't even know that that's an option and doctors usually don't mention it when patients ask for STD testing. I think that this is outrageous because we know that being exposed to the infection is devastating emotionally for most people and, for some people it can by a true nightmare and it is very dangerours during pregnancy and the government, FDA and drug companies don't think it's a big deal. There won't be more accurate results until they get a bigger poll of people getting tested.

Why would someone who doesn't have herpes decide to date someone who has herpes? Why would they want to risk getting herpes just to have sex with someone that they are just getting to know? Let's be honest, most of us start having sex way before we fall in love, so why would someone risk their health and deal with all the stigma if they don't have to?

I don't know how to interpret the negative blood test results. What does it mean when you get a <.09 igg level BUT NOT A ZERO blood test result and even after being retested the result is still the same. Does it mean that the person does have antibodies but not enough to have a herpes diagnosis? Or does it mean the they don't have antibodies at all? If they do have a 0.9 result, can they be contagious?

When was the blood test done? If it was done at the onset of the outbreak, it was probably an existing infection. [Caveat: What I don't know is if people can have an initial OB weeks or months after becoming infected. I didn't ever have an initial OB. My symptoms were so mild mistook them for other things.] If the blood test was done several weeks after the outbreak, there's no way to know how long you've had the virus. 50% of those infected will have produced enough antibodies after just three weeks to test positive on a blood test. The index value (the numerical value)--to my knowledge--is not indicative of how long you've had the virus. When I tested positive a year ago, my index value for HSV2 was 3.27 (later confirmed with the Western Blot test). When my ex-husband tested negative, I knew I must have acquired the virus for 18-25 years prior. I tested 8 week after my promary putbreak whi was pretty bad i wanted to confirm that I was HVS 1 negative and know the igg level with was 5.1 wouldering if that means it was old or new infection. I know in the end it doesn't matter. But a second one I have that this guy is an asshole because I still have such strong feelings for him and he definitely does not deserve my attention.

I'm no expert, but what your ex is saying makes no sense to me. Of course, he's your ex for a reason, so frankly, it really doesn't matter what he says. Do you have copies of your lab results? If not, I'd call you doctor's office and request a copy. You're looking to see what kind of test you had. IgG is the reliable blood test (IgM is the UNreliable blood test). If you had an IgG blood test, you're also looking to see what the numbers are for both HSV1 and HSV2. When you had what you believe to be an initial outbreak, did your doctor swab the sores? That's the best way to determine what your initial outbreak was. Keep in mind that it takes time for your body to produce enough antibodies to the virus to show up on a blood test. After about 4 months, the tests will pick up the antibodies in most people. If your recent (IgG) blood tests say you were negative for HSV2, it may be because the infection was very recent and your body hasn't produced enough antibodies to be detectable in a blood test. I would re-test in 4 months to be sure. (Unless your doctor swabbed your recent sores and that tested positive for HSV1 or 2.) Sorry if that's all confusing. I think it will make more sense once you look at your lab results. I have been swabbed and blood tested. I'm negative for HSV 1 and positive HSV 2. The igg for HSV 2 already show 5.1 levels after a severe outbreak. I'trying to figure out if it was my ex or the guy from 8 months ago. I the last last ex showed me his blood test results I wouldn't be asking the questions. I'm angry, upset and confused...

My ex says that he was exposed and has antibodies because of that but does not have Herpes. Is that possible?One interesting thing is that he said that he was exposed for HSV 1 and I know for a fact that I don't have HSV 1. Also I had what I believe to be my first outbreak. It was pretty severe. It's been 8 weeks since it started and my pain is just stating to get better. just left completely and I did a blood test. My HSV antibodies came back at 5.1 levels. Does that mean that I was previously enfected or it could have been I was just infected and because of my major outbreak, they build up quicly. The one thing that confuses my is that aI have had back problems for years now but I've had back problems for years. Last summer I had a strange numbness down my left legs and my calf started to hurt. It could have been from my lower back but is was kind of strange. I wonder if it was just my back or if I had been infected then and just got this massive outbreak now.

My boyfriend had both HSV 1 and 2. Did I catch both at the same time? I now exactly when I has infected. I already had a major hSV 2 genital primary outbreak. It was not fun. Now the lymph-nodes on my throat are swallowing and I have a sore throat and body aches. Am I going to have an HSV 1 oral now?

I had sex with a guy who had both HSV1oral and HSV2 genial. What is the likelihood that I caught both? I already had an HSV 2 genital outbreak so I know that but now the lymph nodes in my throat are hurting like I've got a cold.

I'm so sorry, No Regerts

Your knowledge is very impressive! We need more people as knowledgeable as you are. Thank you! Would love to stay in touch via personal email. Need to figure out how to send a personal message.

Thanks. Your info is always so helpful. Do you know if these are the numbers for single white females?

I'm 45 and I'm freaking out about it I think that's the thing that I'm the most scared about, besides the symptoms of course, the whole thing! Thank you so much for sharing

@mcf1971 Something like 95% of old people have HSV, at least in the U.S. This includes a very high percentage of old people with genital herpes specifically. I don't know of specific issues with mixing meds, but as with all meds, it's wise to run your various meds through an app or website feature that checks for possible contraindications. I'm not a senior yet but i'm trying to educate myself as much as possible I would also want to know if there are any serious clinical trials/research testing the effectivenes of alternative health medicines in treating and preventing herpes. I haven't found any real research on it. Only an anecdotal information about different herbs, oils, etc... Do you know anything about it? The medications that they're prescribing now eventually affect the immune system because they're antiviruses. It's so frustrating that they still know so little about it and there are no vaccines?

I also have major concens about old age. They already came up with a vaccine for HPV, it's still for younger people but it's still progress. They think that because it does not kill people it's not a priority, but the truth is that they don't know if it will kill people by adding o other illnesses and is does kill a lot of people emotionally. Even suicide. It's very hard to have something so extreme between your legs. We can lern to deal with it but it's the most intimate/vulnerable part of your body. Anyone know about hsv and medication issues in old age?

Just had the same happen to me and you answered exactly what I was wondering about! Thanks!

If the medical community says that they estimate that 1 in every 6 people aged between 14 and 49 have it, you can be sure that the real number is much greater than that. This infection is not even part of the standard STD testing so there are millions of people out there who don't know they have Herpes and this is the 80 - 90% that they are referring to... This is actually an epidemic but both the government, the medical community, and the people at large don't want to deal with it!

@H1234 @stillstanding The 1 in 6 number comes from a large study of 14-49 year olds. Blood samples were taken for HSV2 (HSV1/GHSV1 is not factored into the 1 in 6). 29% of the study participants had not yet had sex, so among the sexually active in the study, the infection rate was closer to 1 in 4. Almost twice as many women are infected as men, so among the 14-49 year old sexually active girls/women, more than 1 in 4 are infected. Among sexually active boys/men, less than 1 in 4. The rate increases with age, so less than 1 in 4 are infected at age 14 but more than 1 in 4 are infected by age 49. The 1 in 4 is an average of everyone in the 14-49 year old range, not a lifetime risk which would be much higher. More than half of single/divorced/widowed women have HSV2 by age 45-49. The percentage is smaller among men. Most adults have HSV1, usually orally. This can also be transmitted to a partner's genitals, causing genital herpes. HSV is extremely common. Edit to add: There are a few reasons you feel like you're alone in this. First, most people who are infected don't know they are infected. It is estimated that 80-90% of people with genital herpes are unaware they have it. Only 12.5% of those who are positive have been diagnosed. Also, while people tend to speak freely about oral herpes (cold sores), there is a stigma associated with genital herpes, likely because it is transmitted sexually, and possibly also because people don't visually see it all the time in regular life like they see cold sores so they imagine it to be much worse than it really is. Seeing cold sores out and about kind of normalizes oral herpes, and people can see that those who have cold sores have them intermittently and that they are a temporary nuisance. Great info as always!!!

On average, genital HSV2 sheds 2x as frequently as oral HSV1 and 3x as frequently as GHSV1. If you have a lot of anxiety about transmission, consider daily antivirals. On average, antivirals cut GHSV2 shedding rates to about the same frequency as oral and genital HSV1. Thank you for the info. At this point I just found out abt this and i'm not in a relationship.but I will definitely consider it. But another thing that I don't understand is why even if we have no outbreaks we still shed...

Unless I understood incorrectly, I was reading an article that was saying that people who have HSV 1 genital rarely get outbreaks and if they do, they are so rare and since they barely shed, they don't even need to take antivirals. I'm still getting used to this but the OB, shedding, medication, risk of transmission are so incredibly depressing. I don't think I will ever be able to relax again if I'm intimate with someone,,,,,

I think it does. But you have to look at the whole situation. Research the different options and other's people's experiences. I like the previous answer. You might need it now but not later. BUT ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH! There is so much that the medical community does not know about this! Good luck!

about 10 drops of tea tree oil mixed with one tablespoon of coconut oil helps and it's very suiting.