HSV Testing in Pregnancy: Just DO it!
After speaking a lot with OB/GYN providers in the past few weeks, I would like to vent about HSV testing in pregnancy. There are so many reasons given for not testing in pregnancy, but to me NONE of them hold a candle to the value of testing.
If the statistics are true that about 1 in three women in their 30's have HSV 2, and 90% of them don't know, ASKING pregnant women if they have genital herpes is almost worthless. Yes, you will catch a few, but miss 90% of those infected!
If you believe the research that shows that people who test positive for HSV 2, but have no outbreaks shed asymptomatically at the same rate as those having 1-12 outbreaks, then wouldn't it be useful to know who is infected, rather than basically playing Russian roulette with the pregnancy?
If you believe that viral suppression treatment for women with herpes at the end of pregnancy is the right and valuable thing to do, would you not then want to know who all the infected women are? If you believe that the woman who gets new herpes in the third trimester has a 30-50% chance of infecting her baby, would you not want to know which women are vulnerable and which of their partners is infected?
Pregnant women are routinely tested for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, rubella, HIV (in many states), and their pap smears hopefully look for HPV. Why, then, we would not test for herpes?
In my next blog, I will share with you the reasons I am given for not testing. Some of you will be amazed, others of you will not be surprised. Suffice to say, in preview, we are letting social stigma and emotional upset guide testing decisions. This is not true for all clinicians, but many. Perhaps testing for HSV in pregnancy will need to come from patients, driving clinicians to test. But it should be the other way around, I think.
Terri
Related Topics: Are You Sex-Smart?, Vaginal Gel Blocks HIV, Herpes
If the statistics are true that about 1 in three women in their 30's have HSV 2, and 90% of them don't know, ASKING pregnant women if they have genital herpes is almost worthless. Yes, you will catch a few, but miss 90% of those infected!
If you believe the research that shows that people who test positive for HSV 2, but have no outbreaks shed asymptomatically at the same rate as those having 1-12 outbreaks, then wouldn't it be useful to know who is infected, rather than basically playing Russian roulette with the pregnancy?
If you believe that viral suppression treatment for women with herpes at the end of pregnancy is the right and valuable thing to do, would you not then want to know who all the infected women are? If you believe that the woman who gets new herpes in the third trimester has a 30-50% chance of infecting her baby, would you not want to know which women are vulnerable and which of their partners is infected?
Pregnant women are routinely tested for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, rubella, HIV (in many states), and their pap smears hopefully look for HPV. Why, then, we would not test for herpes?
In my next blog, I will share with you the reasons I am given for not testing. Some of you will be amazed, others of you will not be surprised. Suffice to say, in preview, we are letting social stigma and emotional upset guide testing decisions. This is not true for all clinicians, but many. Perhaps testing for HSV in pregnancy will need to come from patients, driving clinicians to test. But it should be the other way around, I think.
Terri
Related Topics: Are You Sex-Smart?, Vaginal Gel Blocks HIV, Herpes
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50 Comments:
I can not agree more. I myself was not tested and didn't find out I had HSV until after I infected my son. He has born with HSV Pneumonitis My sons Tracheal aspirate grew HSV in the culture. This is rare,It is were the child breaths in the infected fluid during child birth. My son spend 2 1/2 soild months in the hospital on life soport. My son is one of the handful of kids who have live with this. My doctor ask me if I has HSV I told him no since I didn't know I had it.... He never tested me now my son has to live with his mistake...........
I don't really have a comment, I have a question. My boyfriend and I had sex for the first time, and I noticed a circular scar on his penis, he says that it is a burn from masturbating too vigorously without a lubricant. Could this be a healed HSV leision? Could I have been infected? If so is there any immediate treatment so that I don't get herpes?
Thank you.
is it at all possible to contract genital herpes without having sex?
hi im 15 and i am a virgin..just about a week ago i got this bump on the inner side of the lip of my vagina....i went to the family doctor cuz it busted and it really hurt...the doctor gave me veltrex and it went away ....he said that it could b Herpees type I, i looked that up online and it says you can only get that on your lips....i dont know but im really scared and confused i dont want to have a disease.....what could this be does it have to b herpees? could this b something eles? please help
I am thinking about having liposuction and I am on acyclover for supression therapy. I dont want to tell the doctor and REALLY need to know if there is any risk if I am being put under general anesthetics while I am on acyclover???? PLEASE ADVISE!
Most doctors who insist on being politically correct, will tell you that herpes can only be contracted by sex. I know this is not the case. I've only had sex with my wife, married to her for 25 years. She has no herpes. However, when I joined the Navy, during the first days of boot camp, we were about 80 recruits, and I recall that on the 1st or 2nd day, we were given a break to use the head (restroom). There were several stalls and none had doors. As you had your bowel movement or urinated, you had the next person waiting in line staring and talking to you. As soon as you got done, the next person was told to jump in and we were being rushed. A few weeks later I noticed these genital sores which I had no clue what they were. I went to see a doctor at the base and was diagnosed with genital herpes. To this day I know I must have contracted this from someone who had the disease and when I sat on the toilet, I obviously came in contact with it. Only one civilian doctor acknowledged to me that it is possible for herpes to survive on a surface for a short while, so he agreed was possible I contracted it when I immediately sat in the toilet when a fellow recruit got off the toilet.
Me and my husband both have herpes. He seldom breaks out and I constantly break out, what's up with that and why am I staying itching and irritated in my private area (all the time)?
Does anyone know how genital herpes affects the white blood cell count? is it like an infection that raises white counts? Also, will genital herpes raise the white count if dormant or does it have to be active?
I have a canker sore in my mouth. I assume it is HSV1... Can I give someone genital herpes by having oral sex?
Thank youu!
csEvery year during my annual exam I get tested for all STDs. While last year, I tested positive for type 2 herpes for the first time and am currently waiting for the results of this year’s blood test. I have been in a monogamous relationship for 7 years and as far as I know he doesn’t have herpes. Is it possible for herpes to be dormant for a long time before it would show up in a blood test, and if so for how long? Thanks
can you have hsv-2 on your face, hands, legs, arms
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hi im just wondering i never had sex in all my life i masterbate a couple a times well all my life ,and im just wandering if you can get worts ,and what can u get form over masterbating? i dont know is there other ways in getting worts or stds except having oral sex or ordanary sex,and kissing,is there?
thanks and godbless
I have a serious queston. a very close friend of mine is worried about her mother. Every time her mother and father have sex they both swell up the mother gets a rash develops pus pockets on her face and the father gets sick as well, both have to take medicaton after they have sex and they've been married for 39 years. What could this possibly be???
Hello
I frequently get a small bump in my anus. When it starts, it is painful to pass stool. As soon as I apply some cream, the pain soothes. The bump/blister takes max 3 days to dissolve. It feels like a ball of liquid. any ideas what it is?
I recently got diagnosed with herpes type 1. I tested negative for type 2. I requested a test be done because my boyfriend had a cold soar on the side of his mouth and we kissed. I have never been tested for this before, just concerned since I saw this cold soar on his mouth. How did he get it and did I get it from kissing? I'm just distraught now. I feel as if I have been told I have a deadly cancer. I'm trying to figure out if he gave it to me by kissing (my doc said yes, but I need to know) this is killing me trying to figure out how I got it. There is not enough info on type 1. Please give me some answers...
I'm a little worry that I might have a an STD, I have white heads on the head of my penis but yet it does not burn or itch. Will this go away or should I see a doctor?
my friend has hurpies or w.e and my friends boyfriend had sex with her.. i had never had sex bfor .. or even kissed a guy and he put beard in his mouth and took it out n it touched the inside of my lip..
but he didtn have any cold sores can i get hurpies????
For questions about genital herpes please visit the Genital Herpes board as questions cannot be answered here on this blog.
Please realize that you also cannot receive a medical diagnosis over the internet, you must see a doctor.
do herpes stay with you forever or is that only some strands?
I just recently was dianosed w/ HSV2. I had suspected my husband was unfaithfull( he denies it). He admitted to over 10 lap dances from a stripper. I was infected 6months ago my Dr. told me. I have just gone through multiple sureries 6 months ago. Should I get retested to be sure, I have never shown any suptoms.
Hey everyone who is readin this, But can yall help me... I have made a mistake and I need help knowin wut i have... Well this past weekend i had sex with two different guys and one more time with one of em and they didnt use protection and they never pull out. It lasted about 1 and a half hour and I want to know how i would know if im pregnant.Can sum one please tell me how i will noe and I really want to noe if im sick. My urine smells really bad and My ururis Cant spell well it itches really bad and yea that doesnt seem normal and I hope sum one reads this and can help me im only 17 Thank ya sooooo much
I have a question. On my penis, well its eaiser to see when i get an erection there are tiny yellowish bumps very timy but their there. And I think it is spreading. I had 2 dots now i have three i am really scared right now, could you please help me I
Please, answer for me? I am pregnant, 1st Trimester [early], I made the mistake of having unprotected sex, during the process the man decided that was the time to tell me he has herpes and that he had to tell me, huh? It was to late by then and he knows I'm pregnant. Am, I at risk now? And what about my baby???
To those of you with specific questions about your own situation and Herpes, please post to our Genital Herpes: Terri Warren, RN, ANP board.
i have never had sex before, im still a virgin and i have contracted herpes, once i went to the doctor and he told me that it was herpes i went home and researched and most info tell you that you obtain it from sex, but since i had no sexual contact and im single how else would i contract herpes?
Hi Iam 17 years old and Iam a Virgin I have noticed some soars on my penis they seem to be redish and the skin on them is dry and has peeled very lighly I also recive a burning pain when masturbating sometimes
What do I have? please help I am very scared
I also masterbate frequently could I be doing this too much?
Hello. Im 15 years old. Female.. im afraid i might have genital herpes even though im a virgin. i shave down there so i thought it was just razor burn and im still praying it is, but about a month ago i had a little bump right inbetween my belly button and vagina, right where pubic hair starts and i didnt think anything of it. i now have a tiny scar. but recently iv gottn another between my leg and vagina. its smaller though. and iv had numberous small red specks from razor burn(that im sure of) but what are the bigger ones?
im 15 and i got a cold sqaw utha day i get them alot but i give out oral sex and now im really scared he may of corsed herpees
I don't have a comment it is more of a question. I went to my first prenatal visit last week and the doctor told me I had genital warts. I don't believe I have warts but they saw a bump between my vagina and anus. Could this be something different? Please help!
For answers to specific questions, please visit our Genital Herpes message board or our HPV message boards.
Thank you.
I don't have a comment it is a question. can you get herpees by having oral sex? let me elaborate: if a woman has oral sex with a guy she later finds out has type B herpees, (but no brakeout) contract herpees?
Here is some information about how herpes is spread. If you have additional questions, please visit our Genital Herpes message board.
this is a question:ive just found out i have herpes what is the best and quickest way to get rid of them?
Can herpes (type 2) cause infertility in women?
I recently, found out that I was positive for genital herpes my only concern is if you can keep it a secret from a partner that you loved very much without them every finding out.
i am 15 years old. i have never had sex, nor has anyone other than me ever touched my penis. it looks like i have genital herpies around the foreskin of my penis but it never itches or burns or w/e. i have never felt pain on my penis. the sores or w/e they are never pop there little small things clustered up together. i have seen pictures and it does kinda look like that. there alwayz at the samespot and they dont heal and then come back later, there alwayz at the same spot. i neeed help plz somen answer. plz.=[
Hi, I'm 17 year old, I'm still a virgin and I think I have herpes.. I have two swollen red lumps on my inner thighs. and one has crusted over and the other just appeared tonight.. I'm worried that this could be serious, but I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to tell my parents, cause I don't know how they will react... How is this possible? I've never had sex...
Highly Worried,
To ask questions of Terri about your own situation please visit her message board and post it there.
Thank you!
is it possible to get a herpes w/out having sex or kissing... or something..??
YESSS you can get herpes type 1 from oral sex and kissing. i dont know about sharing a cup with someone. but definitely oral sex. be careful. about 90% (i think it is) of american adults have herpes 1. so its not a big deal. but make sure you dont pass it to an uninfected partner. use protection when have sex and when you have an outbreak. see your doc to make sure what it is so you know for sure.
How likely is it to get genital herpes without any actual penetration?
HELLO, MY BOYFRIEND HAS HERPES. WE GOAHEAD SEX. I WONDER I WILL GET IT TOOO??
I WAS INFECTED WITH HSV 1&2 LAST DEC AND I WAS WONDERING IF IT WAS OKAY FOR ME TO HAVE CHILDREN? IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO GIVE HSV TO THEM AND IF SO HOW? IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO TO STOP IT?
sup im 16 and a virgin but i have recently found little bumps on my penis my sister has herpes but obviously im not have sexual contact with her is ther anyway i could have gotten herpes from her lease help!
NOT FOR SUPPORT THE WEBSITE OR ANYTHING. BUT THERE IS A WEBSITE AT WWW.MPWH.NET THAT IS WONDERFUL FOR MEETING PEOPLE WITH HERPES. I MEAN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. IT CHANGED MY EMOTIONAL STATE TREMENDOUSLY ABOUT THE ENTIRE ORDEAL. I'VE MEET FRIENDS THAT I WILL KNOW THE REST OF MY LIFE.
Ok well for the guy who said he had a scar of his penis from ejaculating without lubraciant that is not possible and it is very possible he has genital herpes or genital warts and you should get tested. As far as the 15 y/o virgin. HSV-1 has been known as oral herpes and HSV 2 has been known as genital herpes but this is no longer accurate. HSV-1 can be spread to the genitals and it is still HSV 1 just on your genitals from someone with a cold sore giving you oral sex. HSV 1 on the genitals usually disappears without a recurrance.
Like the commenter prior to me, I too am 100 percent sure it is possible to contract herpes type 2 from anything other than sexual contact. At the age of 15 I was diagnosed with herpes type 2; I was also a virgin to any sort of sexual contact, including kissing. My doctor persisted I was lying and informed social services where I was proven to have never had sexual intercourse and I can honestly say that to this day I do not know how I contracted this disease
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