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Questions about "Asymptomatic" Symptoms
Hi Grace (Or whomever has knowledge of this subject manner through personal experience and research), sorry to bother you and let me know if there's a better way to do this so that everyone can benefit from the knowledge that you share. But I was wondering if you could provide some clarification to "asymptomatic" HSV2 or genital herpes symptoms.
1.) I've been reading online that the majority of people (around 70%) are asymptomatic, however at the same time I've read other posts that in all actuality, the majority of people still have classic symptoms. Do you know which is the more current thought about genital herpes? Are more people asymptomatic or not? Difference among men vs. women?
2.) There's also posts about how asymptomatic or non-classic symptoms may be so minor that people won't know that they've had an outbreak. In your experience, is that something that the majority of people have? I feel that perhaps a majority of people are focusing a lot on their groin area and thus perhaps every little thing can be interpreted as a possible "asymptomatic" symptoms or prodrome to a herpes outbreak. As in could something as an occasional itch, that goes away once you scratch it be an asymptomatic sign or would this irregular symptoms be more persistent?
3.) Also, even if a person is asymptomatic, or have weird symptoms/signs, would you eventually seem some sort of outbreak or can a person just have asymptomatic signs chronically?
Again, this is all based on your own personal experience and knowledge of the field. I know many people are constantly worried that their symptoms indeed fall into the "irregular" or asymptomatic category, however there's not much information out there that clearly defines things, other than the general idea that "anything" can be an irregular sign.
1.) I've been reading online that the majority of people (around 70%) are asymptomatic, however at the same time I've read other posts that in all actuality, the majority of people still have classic symptoms. Do you know which is the more current thought about genital herpes? Are more people asymptomatic or not? Difference among men vs. women?
2.) There's also posts about how asymptomatic or non-classic symptoms may be so minor that people won't know that they've had an outbreak. In your experience, is that something that the majority of people have? I feel that perhaps a majority of people are focusing a lot on their groin area and thus perhaps every little thing can be interpreted as a possible "asymptomatic" symptoms or prodrome to a herpes outbreak. As in could something as an occasional itch, that goes away once you scratch it be an asymptomatic sign or would this irregular symptoms be more persistent?
3.) Also, even if a person is asymptomatic, or have weird symptoms/signs, would you eventually seem some sort of outbreak or can a person just have asymptomatic signs chronically?
Again, this is all based on your own personal experience and knowledge of the field. I know many people are constantly worried that their symptoms indeed fall into the "irregular" or asymptomatic category, however there's not much information out there that clearly defines things, other than the general idea that "anything" can be an irregular sign.
Thanks Fleet, you're always great with a very informative and well written response :-D
How about the rest of the community, anyone else have thoughts about this?
How about the rest of the community, anyone else have thoughts about this?
Your questions have only subjective answers as they are not truly known.
Based on my personal experience with HSV1, HSV2:
- I believe the medical experts in this area when they suggest that maybe about 20% of people with genital HSV2 never experience outbreaks. This means the remaining 80% would have classic outbreaks that include very small lesions that are ignored as potentially herpes.
- I agree that it is usually clear cut as to when an outbreak occurs and any other symptoms are probably not related. Sometimes are the little red patch may be just a small red bump that never really blisters but mine follow the cycle of several days from appearance to healing even at their mildest.
- In the end, I do believe that for 80% of people with HSV2, it will eventually result in a classic lesion.
I am not sure how this is helping your thinking. HSV2 has two states. You are infected or not. There isn't really a way of reverse engineering an interpretation of symptoms to diagnose herpes. You are conclusively negative.
Based on my personal experience with HSV1, HSV2:
- I believe the medical experts in this area when they suggest that maybe about 20% of people with genital HSV2 never experience outbreaks. This means the remaining 80% would have classic outbreaks that include very small lesions that are ignored as potentially herpes.
- I agree that it is usually clear cut as to when an outbreak occurs and any other symptoms are probably not related. Sometimes are the little red patch may be just a small red bump that never really blisters but mine follow the cycle of several days from appearance to healing even at their mildest.
- In the end, I do believe that for 80% of people with HSV2, it will eventually result in a classic lesion.
I am not sure how this is helping your thinking. HSV2 has two states. You are infected or not. There isn't really a way of reverse engineering an interpretation of symptoms to diagnose herpes. You are conclusively negative.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
