The New Intimacy

How often do you get tested and do you test for hsv?

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Contributor: KinkyShay KinkyShay
This has been a hot issue with other friends recently.

A great many people don't insist on testing for hsv because the medical community doesn't automatically include it in an STD panel, so you'd have to specifically ask for it and be adamant about it.
02/04/2010
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Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
(EF Review Program Mentor)
Quote:
Originally posted by KinkyShay
This has been a hot issue with other friends recently.

A great many people don't insist on testing for hsv because the medical community doesn't automatically include it in an STD panel, so you'd have to specifically ask for it ... more
Usually there is a noticable breakout indicating the presence of Herpes though that isn't always true. Most doctors rely on the 'outbreak' indicator so you do have to be rather firm about wanting the test. My doctor does test for it simply because my sister has permanent scars from HSV on her lips...a reliable indicator that my family is susceptible to the virus and I am probably already infected. I have never tested positive for genital herpes but I have had cold sores on my mouth, just not recently eough for a swab to diagnose whether they are actual cold sores or just cracked irritated skin (I have eczema). Yes, I know there are many strains of HSV and only a few are considered STD but is is possible to turn a cold sore into a genital sore, by the obvious methods, rare though it is.

At any rate my Doctor knows my husband and my sexual habits and practices so he tests us fully for EVERYTHING once a year and then at the 6 month mark will retest for the more prevalent STDs in the area. This has served us well for over 20 years and along with safer sex practices ensures we would catch anything early and when it is easiest to treat!
02/04/2010
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
I have never been tested.
For us, it's never been necessary, but a good idea depending on the situation.
02/04/2010
Contributor: Juliettia Juliettia
Quote:
Originally posted by Sammi
I have never been tested.
For us, it's never been necessary, but a good idea depending on the situation.
Same here.
02/05/2010
Contributor: Red Red
I ask for it every time (twice a year) and always get the strange "oh you want that?" attitudish response about it. It's odd to me that it's not more standard.
02/05/2010
Contributor: Britni TheVadgeWig Britni TheVadgeWig
I'm tested twice a year, every year, no matter what. Even if I'm in a monogamous relationship. More often if I feel like it's necessary.

I don't always get tested for HSV, though I have been in the past. I try to do it at least once a year, but sometimes I miss. So no, not every time, but yes, I do test for it. Most places don't want to test unless there's a breakout, though.
02/05/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Before my last gyno visit I had never been tested. But it was free and my fiance's ex was kind of a ho, so I figured better safe than sorry. Thankfully it came up clean. The next time I get tested will probably be in a few years, just to make sure.
03/16/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
I test with every partner. And yes we tested for Herpes Simplex one and two.
03/16/2010
Contributor: Jenn (aka kissmykitty) Jenn (aka kissmykitty)
(EdenFantasys)
I have been tested during both of my pregnancies, and when I first went on hormonal birth control back in 2000, but that's it. My husband and I are in a monogamous relationship. Yes, I know that doesn't prevent the risk of cheating, but I'm not regularly tested, and neither is he, so that's that, I suppose...
03/30/2010
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
I get tested yearly at my annual exam but never for hsv. I have hsv 1, get cold sores, so the tests would show positive and not identify if I had hsv 2 conclusively or not.
03/30/2010
Contributor: SydVicious SydVicious
I have only have the tests that they do when going on birth control or at the yearly exam. Like Sammi said, it's not really something that we need to do... but I am glad to see that so many others take this very seriously. I have a good friend that doesn't take testing or birth control seriously at all and with her sexual practices she needs to.
03/30/2010
Contributor: Gidget Gidget
Another thing to consider when thinking about why a herpes test is not included in standard STI tests (besides all of the bs from insurance companies) is that unless you are having a possible outbreak or have possibly been exposed (in which case you can often get the test) it almost doesn't matter.
A surprising percentage of American adults have HSV1 (oral) which we get when we are little from our grandparents, from a peck with a friend, etc. and is really no big deal, such a small deal in fact that we have the term "cold sore" for them. However it can become HSV2 (genital) and that is what people get scared of.

My favorite quote regarding herpes is that "It is merely an annoying, recurring skin condition that is both treatable and manageable- nothing more, nothing less."

which is so very true! It is annoying, yes. Open sores can get infected by other things potentially, yes. But will it really harm you besides that, no.
04/15/2010
Contributor: RosesThorns RosesThorns
Once a year and when I change/add partners.
04/15/2010
Contributor: removedacnt removedacnt
I have never been tested for anything. I know. I'm bad.
04/16/2010
Contributor: KinkyShay KinkyShay
@ Gidget - You've been misinformed. HSV 1 can never become HSV 2.

What can happen if you have oral HSV 1 is that during oral sex you can transmit this to a partner. Obviously this could happen during an outbreak, and a bit before and after one. What is less widely known is that all forms of HSV have what's called asymptomatic shedding.

That means that without any symptoms whatsoever, HSV comes to the surface, basically out of hibernation, and sheds. This is a dangerous stage and one wouldn't know they were shedding virus.

This varies as far as how often it happens based on what type of HSV you have, the location you have it, and how long you've had HSV. In other countries, having genital HSV 1 is becoming very common. The frequency of oral sex tends to be responsible for why it's more common.

Something to consider and factor in when you have oral sex. It's a risk, and although not extremely common, it does happen.
05/19/2010
Contributor: PassionQT PassionQT
The actual number of people that have one type or another of HSV would probably surprise you. However, being most who have it never get tested or never have outbreaks, it just keeps transmitting itself and the medical community doesn't seem too concerned about it, seriously! I just saw a GYN last month and she said that they typically won't test unless you have VISIBLE symptoms. However, most with it have NO symptoms and may very well NEVER have any. She also told me how her friend got it from her fiance who was told by his Dr. that he had bad jock itch for 5 years! And to top it off, she said that her husband has cold sores too. I think she was trying to reassure me that is really isn't anything more than an inconvenience for some, but that it is very common. Additionally, she said that if every person was tested for it, the results would be over 50% of population. The reason the test is often overlooked is because the psychological effects are often much worse than the physical symptoms/outcomes due to the stigma associated with it. Education is the key to understanding, much like anything else. Sadly though, many resort to taunting and stupid jokes when it really isn't warranted (and they have a 50% chance of having it too!)
06/08/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
My husband and I got tested when we were first dating, and I used to get tested every 6 months when I was a tattoo artist. But it has been nearly 3 years since I have felt the need to be tested.
06/08/2010