Why Herpes Blood Testing?

What's your first reaction when you hear the word herpes? Most of us grimace and recoil at the sound of it, even though many of us have dealt with it in our personal lives. The name herpes can conjure thoughts of visits to STD infested massage parlors or Caligula style orgies, but that's not a very accurate perception of a viral infection that is such a common occurrence in our society.
There are seven different forms of the herpes virus but when discussing herpes as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) we focus on type 1 and type 2. The other five types of herpes cause other illnesses such as the chicken pox or mononucleosis.
Interestingly, many people do not think of herpes 1 as herpes or as an STD. If I mention testing for type 1 herpes they'll say, "You mean cold sores? My Grandma used to get those, I'm not worried about that", or "yeah, my mom and my brother get them, but I don't have it".
The fact is herpes is transmitted through skin to skin contact, at the site of the infection, when the virus is at the surface of the skin, and it is very readily transmittable. It's estimated that over 70 percent of the adult population has type 1 herpes. Most infections are contracted before the age of five by being kissed by a parent or relative.

Symptoms of type 1 herpes are usually fluid filled blisters that become ulcers on the dry part of the lips, between the lip and nose, and even in the nostril. The common name for a herpes 1 outbreak is cold sore or fever blister. Having a cold or a fever does not create the blister, but being sick puts a strain on the immune system which can trigger the dormant herpes virus to become active. It's the outbreak's proximity to illness that give them their name.
The majority of people infected with herpes 1 do not experience cold sores or fever blisters. It's not uncommon to see immediate families that may have one or two members that suffer from reoccurring cold sores or fever blisters, but every member of the family has detectable antibodies to the virus. If antibodies are present in the blood then that person too was infected at some point in the past.
It is usually type 2 herpes that really gets people bothered. Mouth sores are one thing, but genital lesions must mean that you're unclean. No one wants to go through the uncomfortable experience of explaining that they have genital herpes. That's why many people avoid telling partners about their infection all together.
It's estimated that 20 to 25 percent of sexually active adults have herpes 2. The Centers for Disease Control believes that 70 percent of the time that herpes is transmitted the infectious person has no symptoms. Thirty percent of new herpes infections will be asymptomatic, meaning, with out a herpes blood test 3 out of 10 newly infected people may be unaware that they are infected.
Now here's the thing, herpes is not named based on where you contract it. It's not lips equal type 1 and genitals equal type 2. Type 1 herpes doesn't blush and shrink away when exposed to the genitals, just as type 2 herpes doesn't turn down the opportunity to be transmitted to the lips. Remember, herpes is transmitted through skin to skin contact, and that includes mouth to genital contact as well. Type 1 herpes can cause genital herpes and type 2 herpes can be contracted on the face.
That's why learning your herpes status through a type specific herpes blood test is important. A type specific herpes blood test is able gives separate results for both type 1 and type 2 herpes. Knowing your herpes status can help you avoid getting infected or unknowingly transmitting the infection to someone else.
You shouldn't let the social stigma surrounding herpes, or the lack of it, put you or your partners at risk for infection, and you should always feel free to discuss any concerns or questions you have with a counselor. Trained counselors are available to answer your questions at.
And remember, whenever possible, have new partners tested before having sex, and when it's not possible, use a condom until you do.