From the Guidelines
The odds of a male having herpes are approximately 1 in 9 males (11.2%) aged 14-49 in the United States for genital herpes (HSV-2), and about 1 in 2 males (47.8%) have oral herpes (HSV-1) 1.
Key Points
- The prevalence of genital herpes (HSV-2) in males aged 14-49 in the United States is around 11.2% 1.
- The prevalence of oral herpes (HSV-1) in the same age group is approximately 47.8% 1.
- Risk factors that increase the likelihood of having herpes include having multiple sexual partners, unprotected sex, and previous sexually transmitted infections.
- Many infected individuals don't know they have herpes because symptoms can be mild or absent entirely.
- When symptoms do appear, they typically manifest as painful blisters or sores in the genital area for HSV-2 or around the mouth for HSV-1.
- Testing is available through blood tests or swabs of active lesions.
- While herpes has no cure, antiviral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir can help manage outbreaks and reduce transmission risk when used consistently.
Prevention and Management
- Consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the transmission of HSV-2 1.
- Suppressive antiviral therapy can reduce HSV-2 transmission to susceptible partners by 50% 1.
- Avoiding sexual contact when partners have overt herpetic lesions can also prevent transmission 1.
From the Research
Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus
- Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are highly prevalent, infecting approximately 64% and 13% of the world's population, respectively 2.
- In the United States, the prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 was estimated among persons aged 14-49 using data from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 3.
Odds of a Male Having Herpes
- The odds of a male having herpes are not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but the prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 among males can be inferred from the overall prevalence rates 2, 3.
- Genital herpes simplex virus infections are among the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections in the United States, and males are at risk of infection 4, 5.
Risk Factors and Transmission
- Herpes simplex virus is transmitted through contact with an infected person's lesion, mucosal surface, or genital or oral secretions 3.
- The risk of transmission is higher among individuals with multiple sexual partners, and the use of condoms can reduce the risk of transmission 4, 5.
Treatment and Management
- Current treatments for herpes simplex virus infections, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, are effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life, but are not curative 4, 5, 6.
- Novel treatments, such as helicase primase inhibitors (HPIs), are emerging as a promising alternative, showing high efficacy and the potential to overcome resistance 2.