Is herpes pretty common?

[Yeahman]

I've only recently laid my eyes on this STI called herpes.

I only give head, and sometimes when the skin under my lower lip chaps and irritates me, I panic.

If the dick I suck looks normal without any STI infection, am I at risk? I'm talking about non-HIV STIs.

[Boygeorge]

i caught gonorhea, syphilis, herpes! very common in the gay scene!

[pubic_assistance]

Everyone has herpes.

There's two types.

One that shows up in your mouth and one thst shows up on your genitals.

Most everyone has the oral kind.

The genital variety is contagious only when infectious. But a small infection may not be too visible in the dark of a bedroom visit.

[+ Charlie]

Herpes was the #1 fear in gay sex when I was young; I got it when I was in my early 20s. Over the years the symptoms would recur periodically, but it has been years since the last appearance--I used to keep a supply of Acyclovir in the refrigerator at all times. Most people seemed to stop thinking about herpes after HIV came along, because herpes was unpleasant but not deadly.

[+ robear]

It's a good bet that anyone who has had more than a few sex partners will be a carrier of the HSV-2 ("genital") virus.  Overall adult population estimates are 1 in 6, but that general population of course includes many people who have had very few or no sex partners.  It often produces no noticeable symptoms.  Condoms help, but can't fully prevent transmission.  Outbreaks can be treated with acyclovir if needed, but there is no cure.  Your doctor can order a blood test to see if you are positive, but what will you do with that information?  Echoing Charlie above, in the disco-era 70s, herpes was a somewhat sensational topic in the media, an STI that couldn't be cured!!  And of course it affected straight people, so "something had to be done!"  A few years later, HIV said "hold my beer."

https://www.cdc.gov/herpes/about/index.html  

[Yeahman]

I don't think I have it, but sometimes, I think the lip balm I use or some food may cause allergic response at the circled areas under my lower lip in the attached picture. A little itchy and I scratch it, but no blisters likes these. If I apply some body lotion, it goes way.

I will try to do a full panel test next time when I test for HIV.

Picture credit: Wikipedia

[+ Charlie]

3 hours ago, Yeahman said:

I don't think I have it, but sometimes, I think the lip balm I use or some food may cause allergic response at the circled areas under my lower lip in the attached picture. A little itchy and I scratch it, but no blisters likes these. If I apply some body lotion, it goes way.

I will try to do a full panel test next time when I test for HIV.

Picture credit: Wikipedia

What a beautiful mouth!

[+ PhileasFogg]

On 7/16/2024 at 8:45 AM, pubic_assistance said:

 

Most everyone has the oral kind.

 

Actually, the CDC estimates are less than 50%.  I’ve had it all my life and I’m excessively conscious of not passing it on.   I’ve never passed it on to my kids or anyone I’ve been in relationship with.  

[pubic_assistance]

9 hours ago, PhileasFogg said:

Actually, the CDC estimates are less than 50%.  I’ve had it all my life and I’m excessively conscious of not passing it on.   I’ve never passed it on to my kids or anyone I’ve been in relationship with.  

You're misreading the data.

It's 50% of young people and 80% by the time you're an older adult.

Basically - sexually active adults increase their chances of oral herpes by quite a bit until most everyone has it in their later adult years.

 

[+ sniper]

I know somieine who had a single outbreak of Herpes 1, tested positive for it, never had anither outbreak and a later test was negative. Does that mean they actually cleared the virus or can you test negative when it's dormant? If the latter then yeah everybody likely has it.

[moonlight]

12 minutes ago, sniper said:

I know somieine who had a single outbreak of Herpes 1, tested positive for it, never had anither outbreak and a later test was negative. Does that mean they actually cleared the virus or can you test negative when it's dormant? If the latter then yeah everybody likely has it.

The blood tests for herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) have a high false negative rate (IIRC false negative rate for HSV-1 blood test is around 30%). If someone tests positive and then tests negative, then either the first test was a false positive or the second test was a false negative. If they had a true outbreak and tested positive, it's more likely the second test was a false negative. If one truly acquires the virus, there is no way to clear it from the body. It will remain dormant and occasionally reactivate. Not all reactivations are perceptible. There is a Western Blot blood test that is much more accurate, but it is not in widespread use and is expensive.

Moderna is working on a therapeutic Herpes vaccine that will hopefully be a "functional cure" or close to it. Herpes is increasingly being linked to long term health effects such as dementia (HSV-1), along with another herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus which has been linked to multiple sclerosis. Moderna is working on a vaccine for that virus too.