You Were Told It Was Herpes: But Was It?

At Women’s Health Practice our priority is to help you understand your health. Herpes infections are sometimes a bit tricky to understand.

When it comes to STDs, not everything can be tested for, not everything should be tested for, and sometimes we just have to go over what you think you were tested for and check out the validity of the diagnosis.

Herpes Simplex or HSV or genital herpes is often ‘silent’ in that most people with the infection do not know they have it. Thus you may have been exposed without ever realizing that you were exposed.

Herpes can be detected by culture or by blood testing. The lesions do have a characteristic look that an experienced provider can diagnose, but not all clusters of ulcers are in fact herpes. And we do find patients who think they have been diagnosed, but have never had confirmatory tests.

If you want to understand your risks or be tested, we welcome new clients at Women’s Health Practice.