Thank you so much for that. I understand it may be frustrating for you to keep answering my questions and I will try to make this my last one. Just to be clear, all these exposures happened this year and it was only one of first time I tested (which was only 6 weeks after the January exposures but BEFORE the subsequent exposures in March and April) where HSV tests were included. The subsequent tests did not include HSV tests. I guess I’m just wary because I read a lot here that HSV1 & HSV2 is far more common than other stds and I believe that from what I see here kissing, unprotected oral, protected anal as well as vaginal sex; all carry some risks (with condoms being less effective here than say chlam). Can you please elaborate on this (hopefully for the last time)? If your advice remains the same then I can rest assured - just making sure that you do not misunderstand the timeline. Thank you so much.

It isn't true that herpes is "far more common" than most STDs. It is more prevalent than most, i.e. there are more people with HSV1 and 2 than with, say, gonorrhea and chlamydia. But that's because HSV persists for life. The incidence -- the number of new infections and the risk from any single exposure -- are lower for most persons at risk for STD than the risks of gonorrhea or chlamydia.

No, I didn't clearly understand the timeline. But the nature of the exposures described is the main basis for my evaluation and advice. You were at little or no risk for either HSV1 or HSV2.

Thank you for that. I understand now higher prevalence does not necessarily mean that it is more likely for one to get HSV. I guess public information regarding STDs are always on the conservative side to encourage people to be careful. I have this last question that you do not have to answer if you don’t have to, as I’m just asking it more for the sake of using up my last follow up rather than anxiety. My question is that is the low transmission rate the reason why doctors don’t normally suggest HSV tests with general sti screenings? Why is it that Hiv, Gon, Chlam and Syphilis the only ones that doctors make you test for usually? Thank you so much, and again you do not have to answer if you don’t want to.

Many years ago, in two one year terms as a visiting scientist at CDC, I led efforts to evaluate and potentially revise CDC's policies and recommendations about HSV, especially prevention strategies. There are several reasons CDC and most other public health agencies -- including CDC's counterparts in other countries -- do not recommend routine HSV testing. The tests are not very good -- inherently unreliable whether negative or positive (especially for HSV1), unlike tests for other STDs. Even in truly infected persons, there isn't much to be done, especially in people infected without symptoms -- i.e. no easy treatment, unlike single dose treatment for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Herpes has its important complications but in general these are uncommon; many or most infected people and their partners experience little health impact, and testing can elevate anxieties without much solution to them. Further, many or most people just don't care very much; they understand that herpes usually (not always!) is a minor health problem that doesn't seem important. All this is further complicated because understanding test results and how to treat and otherwise manage herpes are complex, presenting challenges in physician education for effective managing and advising patients. All these issues are in contrast to HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. 

That concludes this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Please note the forum policy against repeated questions on the same topic, especially when anxiety driven. Thanks for your understanding.