Genital herpes, or HSV-2, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is actually the third most common. In fact, one in six people in the U.S. between the ages of 14 and 49 have genital herpes.
You can contract this infection through oral, anal or vaginal sex. Since it usually appears in the form of blisters or sores, it can easily be mistaken as a blemish or ingrown hair. Many times, there are no visible signs or symptoms to alert you of this infection’s presence. However, just because there are no obvious symptoms doesn’t mean that the infection isn’t there.
This is why using a herpes test kit is the most vital step of all. Not getting tested means not being diagnosed and treated. In turn, you can potentially spread the infection, and cause unnecessary health complications for yourself and others.