Most people who have
genital herpes have no symptoms
, or have very mild symptoms. You may not notice mild symptoms or you may mistake them for another skin condition, such as a pimple or ingrown hair. Because of this, most people who have herpes do not know it.
Do you have to disclose your herpes status?
No, it is not illegal to not tell someone you have herpes
. However, if you are in an intimate relationship with someone, it is best to let your partner know that you have an STD. This will allow you both to take precautions to minimize the spread of the STD.
Do people not disclose herpes?
Most individuals with chronic genital herpes do not disclose their infection to their sexual partners before having sex with them for the first time
, according to the results of a study from London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital published in the September 2007 issue of the International Journal of STD and AIDS.
Do you have to disclose herpes 1?
“In order to help decrease the spread,
it is important to disclose any STI (including herpes) to any sexual partner
, so they can make the informed decision to proceed or not,” Dr. Gelow said. “Being able to freely talk about these conditions makes it easier to disclose to potential sexual partners.”
Why do some people not show symptoms of herpes?
When a person is exposed to the herpes virus, the virus travels through the body to nerve cells near the spinal cord known as a dorsal root ganglion. For some people,
the virus stays there latent and never causes any symptoms or problems
.
Can I date someone with herpes?
Between outbreaks,
it’s OK to have sex
, as long as your partner understands and accepts the risk that they may contract herpes. For example, as long as you don’t have herpes sores on your mouth, you can perform oral sex on your partner, including when you have an outbreak of genital symptoms.
Can herpes be dormant for 30 years?
Can it lie dormant?
The herpes virus can lie dormant in the body for years before people experience any symptoms
. After people have the first outbreak of herpes, the virus then lies dormant in the nervous system. Any further outbreaks are due to the virus reactivating, which causes symptoms to appear.
When is herpes most contagious?
While an outbreak isn’t necessary for herpes transmission, herpes is most contagious
about 3 days before an outbreak
; this usually coincides with an itching or burning sensation or pain in the area where the outbreak will occur.
Is herpes still contagious after 20 years?
WASHINGTON — High rates of both overall and subclinical viral shedding continue even beyond 10 years among people with genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection, suggesting that there is a continued risk of transmission to sexual partners long after initial infection.
Are you always contagious with herpes?
Although the chance of spreading disease is greatest when sores are present,
people who have had genital herpes may always be contagious to some degree
, even if they have received medical treatment. The virus can become active and be transmitted to a sexual partner even when the skin appears completely normal.
How do you not pass herpes?
Always
use condoms and dental dams during oral, anal, and vaginal sex
. Talk with your doctor about taking herpes medication every day, which can lower your chances of spreading herpes. Don’t have sex during a herpes outbreak, even with a condom.
What happens if you don’t treat herpes?
What happens if I don’t 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.
How likely are you to get herpes if your partner has it?
In general, women have a higher risk of becoming infected than men. Having other sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV also increases the risk of transmission. In studies with couples where one partner had genital herpes, the other partner became
infected within one year in 5 to 10% of the couples
.
Can you cuddle with someone who has herpes?
This includes kissing, oral sex and contact with the genitals or anus. You can’t catch genital herpes by sharing cups, towels or from toilet seats.
You can still share a bed, kiss or cuddle your partner
and not risk infecting them with herpes.
What should I do if my boyfriend has herpes?
While no prevention method short of abstinence is 100% effective, using a latex condom offers some protection. Your partner should tell you when symptoms flare up, which is when the virus is most contagious.
Avoid having vaginal, anal, or oral sex
when your partner has symptoms.
