Question:
Can asymptomatic herpes carriers have outbreaks? I recently had my first known outbreak a couple of weeks ago. I am wondering if it is possible to have had the virus for years, never have an outbreak then one day have a serious outbreak. From what I read the reoccurences are never as bad as the first. My doctor said that if I had an outbreak before this I would have known about because it would have been worse than what I am going through.

I agree with everyone that has posted the more they learn about herpes the more confused they are! In a strange way it is nice to know I am not the only one that is confused.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

Answer:
Yes it is possible to have the virus for years and not know it. That would be the reason why so many people spread this awful thing. I have read that more then half of the people that have HSV do not even know it. I forget the exact percentage, I am sure someone else on here knows. But yeah that is how sneaky this virus is!!!!! I just wish that I would have known more about this virus a long time ago. I never knew that you could get it through condoms or oral sex or even that it wasn't curable......until I got it myself. Maybe it is just where I was raised but our sex education really sucks here.
Good luck and I hope that with reading more and researching you will find all the answers you are looking for. It is very confusing at first.

Jessalyn

Answer:
Education about this disease does need to get better. It's not "dirty" like people think. The symptoms are kind of gross, but there are other diseases that are worse. I think I am an asymptomatic carrier. The sad part is that like most people, I thought I was being responsible (I have had STD tests, and have screened my partners) and I guess I probably have had it for awhile, but didn't know until now. I probably would have unknowingly kept giving it to everyone else had my bf not had an outbreak. Eventually, everyone will probably have it and only those with outbreaks will realize it. Herpes just sounds so terrible to everyone because there's no cure, when in actuality, most people probably have it without even realizing it.

Answer:
Well it has been awhile since I had to sit in a Sex ed class, but I don't remember them every saying more than Herpes is not curable and moved to a more interesting STD to talk about. Then again I also remember not wanting to sit and listen to all the talk about burning urination and discharged. I probably tuned everything out because it all sound so gross....

Answer:
Well I got my results back today (culture & blood) and they came back positive. The blood test came back positive for a new infection, initial outbreak. In some ways my mind is resting a little easier. I don't think I could bare calling ex-boyfriends and saying well... it might be a good idea to get tested, don't know how long I have had this. Until I learn differently I am going with the assumption that I wasn't carrier and truly had my first outbreak a couple of weeks ago.

Answer:
The only people I told were the three people I had been with in the past year. And the only reason I told them was because I remained pretty good friends with them. They all said no to worry that they would get tested and three months later I only know of one that got tested and he came up negative. So there goes to show that even if you do tell your previous partners it doesn't mean that they will even get tested.
I feel I did my part now it is up to them. But I don't blame anyone for not telling previous partners, it is totally up to you. My doctor even told me (and some may disagree) that it is really pretty pointless to tell everyone because of the rapid spread of the virus anyway. I thought that was just aweful at first but I kinda get where she is coming from now.

Cowgirl I am so sorry that you now have to deal with having H but just know that if you have any questions or just need to talk this is a great board and there is always someone that can answer your questions.

Jessalyn