Curtis Phinney, a federal research scientist, has controlled his outbreaks with suppressive therapy. He said that being open with women he was dating about his condition actually facilitated his search for an appropriate mate. H.S.V.-2 is not the only herpes virus, of course. A majority of Americans are infected with H.S.V.-1, the virus that causes almost all cases of oral herpes and is often acquired during childhood. One reason many people do not realize the prevalence of genital herpes is that the symptoms can be so varied.
Some people experience no symptoms.
In other cases, the signs of an outbreak are very subtle some itching, a slight rash or a tingling sensation that the person has never associated with herpes. Even some health care professionals still believe the virus is transmitted only from open lesions. Condoms offer substantial but not absolute protection. Public health authorities have recently stepped up efforts to get a handle on the problem. The C.D.C. has been developing recommendations on how best to address it through testing and other means, and many public health clinics now offer H.S.V.-2 screening to patients deemed to be at risk.