HELP help HELP I have questions about herpes

Somebody sent me these questions over the weekend. I thought they were great questions and good enough to post on my blog with some answers. I’ll do the best that I can in answering the question. If I don’t know the answer I will do my best to point y’all in the right direction. Remember, I’m not a doctor but I have had genital herpes for 13 years and I have facilitated a local support group for 5.

If you have questions you’d like to ask don’t forget to send me your feedback and I’ll get to them just as soon as I can. Keep in mind that each question asked will always go up anonymously and your right to privacy respected. Thanks!

Ok, so here goes..

1. is it possible to have the virus in your body for 10-15 years before an outbreak..is this likely

It’s totally and completely possible to carry herpes and not know it. That’s why it’s so important when you go in for routine STD testing to be sure and ask that the clinic or doctor test you specifically for herpes. Remember, herpes testing isn’t part of the routine STD testing process.

2. if you have only been with 3 partners in the past 20 years and all 3 do not have the virus can you contract it just through skin contact and then touching your genital area?

If your sexual partners do not have herpes then I don’t see how it would be possible to contract herpes from them. I guess what I’m trying to figure out is how do you know that your past partners do not have herpes? Did they actually have proper herpes testing done OR are they just assuming they are negative from their routine STD testing results which don’t always include tests for herpes?

Here’s more information on Autoinoculation

3. can it be possible your partner has it and you don’t?

Sure! There are lots of couples out there where one has herpes and the other does not have herpes.

4. do you have to have an outbreak in order for your partner to get the herpes virus?

Pretty much..

The virus has to actually be present on the surface of the skin AND your partner has to have an opening or cut in his OR her skin in order for transmission to be successful.

Keep in mind that we don’t always know when the virus is active and present on the surface of the skin. Sometimes the virus can travel the nerve pathways to the surface of the skin and not show itself as an outbreak at all.

Here’s more information on Asymptomatic Shedding

People may contract herpes through sex, kissing, anal sex, oral sex, vaginal sex, etc. Also, just because somebody has herpes doesn’t mean that they are 100% contagious all the time. So it is possible to have sex with somebody that has herpes and not contract the virus at all.

If you have any questions you’d like to see answered on this blog please shoot me an e-mail! I’d be happy to give it my best shot! I think it’s nice to do it this way so that we accomplish helping lots of people at the same time. Thanks!

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