80% of people dont know they have herpes?

[sw85]

I have a querry with the numbers in the disclosure brochure. Its very useful, and ill probably use it with my next future partner that I disclose to, to assist the situation but, after reading it, this question popped up....

 

If 80% of the 16.2% population of the usa dont know they have herpes, how can the 16.2% figure be known/ realistic. What is this figure based on?

 

Am I missing something obvious here?

 

[Beachdude1984]

The NHANES studies took blood samples from thousands of people who also completed a questionnaire. They asked questions like "have you ever been diagnosed with genital herpes?" "Have you ever had symptoms of genital herpes?" and the like. They found that 16.2% of the general population tested positive for HSV 2, but by checking this data against the accompanying questionnaire, 80% were unaware of it. The study was actually broken down by demographics, you can find it online. If memory serves me correctly, infection rates were highest in older black women (~50%), and lowest in younger white men (~5%). Pretty interesting.

[sw85]

Thanks very much for the answer, ill add it to the reading list.

[Labyrinthgddss]

It was this study that convinved a guy i had been dating to get tested before we slept together since i had herpes and he wasn't sure if he did or not. Turns out he had herpes (oral) not genital like me, but in this case the study was right.

[2Legit2Quit]

That's 16% statistic is only for HSV 2 genitally and does not account for the HSV 1 genital infectw, which 50% of neew genital herpes infections, is caused by HSV 1. So imagine what that number woukd be if they were included.?

[WCSDancer2010]

@2Legit2Quit

 

True... odds are the number would be a LOT higher ....

 

I think the reason the researchers have not repeated the test with HSV1 genital is that *current* thinking is that HSV1 genitally *rarely if ever* transmits to others because so many already have it orally and it sheds so much less. Besides, it's easier for them to keep their heads in the sand and pretend that it's not *that* bad... :(

[2Legit2Quit]

I get that, but it still happens and still, it would help get rid of the stigma the more accounted for in numbers on their genitals. Then it would be treated like how they treat oral herpes if that makes sense...it should be included period, end of story. To not do so, further perpetuates that HSV 2 as worse than HSV 1... See where I'm going w this?

[WCSDancer2010]

I totally agree, but you have to convince the people with the money of that :(

[WCSDancer2010]

The easier way to achieve it is to get them to include the Herpes test in the "

Full STD panel" ... over time so many people would know they have it that it wouldn't be such an issue..

[2Legit2Quit]

Yep.... I think it benefits the FDA and big pharma financially to keep it a stigma however