Herpes Statistics

Do you have herpes?
You are not alone.

Herpes statistics can be important in assessing the impact of this virus on a population. The following statistics are taken from several sources. Figures sometimes differ between studies, but they can give you a broad idea of the scope of the herpes epidemic. Some statistics include both herpes simplex type 1 and 2. Remember that both can cause outbreaks on either the mouth or the genitals.

Herpes Demographics and Epidemic Figures:

  • 20% to 25% adults have genital herpes.
  • More than 80% of the adult population has oral herpes and a recent study suggests this number could be 98% among adults.
  • There are approximately one million new cases of herpes each year.
  • The amount of initial doctor's visits for genital herpes was 269,000 in 2004. It was 19,000 in 1966.
  • Genital herpes is more common in women (approximately 1 out of 4 women) than in men (almost 1 out of 5).
  • More African Americans (45.9%) have genital herpes than white Caucasian (17.6%)
  • Twenty percent to 25 percent of pregnant women have genital herpes.
  • If the number of people infected with genital herpes continues to grow at the present rate, nearly half of the US adult population will have genital herpes.
  • Genital herpes is the most prevalent viral STD.
  • There are more cases of genital herpes than there are of all other viral STDs combined.
  • Studies have shown that the vast majority (80-90%) of people who have genital herpes have not been diagnosed.
  • Every 30 seconds, another person gets genital herpes.
  • The number of cases of genital herpes has gone up by over 30% in the last decade.
  • The number of HSV-2 infected people increases from approximately 6% between 12-19 years old to approximately 30% among 30 to 39 years.

Herpes Statistics on Symptoms:

  • Approximately 20% of the people with genital herpes never have symptoms.
  • Approximately 80% of persons having a first episode caused by HSV-2 will have at least one recurrence, while only 50% of persons with HSV-1 will experience a recurrence.
  • In women, the cervix is infected in about 80% to 90% of initial infections, and vaginal discharge may occur.
  • The average number of outbreaks is 4 to 5 a year.
  • During the active stage, 20% to 25% of people begin to have the active herpes virus present on the skin.
  • Some people may experience several herpes outbreaks during a year, while others have only 1 or 2 outbreaks during their lifetime.

Herpes Statistics on Treatments:

  • Clinical trials have proven Valaciclovir, also known as Valtrex, to prevent or delay up to 85% of herpes outbreaks.
  • Valaciclovir was found to reduce herpes transmission by approximately 50% and shedding time by 90%.

Herpes Statistics on Transmission:

  • 70% of sexual partners become infected during episodes of asymptomatic shedding.
  • The more sex partners you have, the higher the risk of you getting, or having already caught, genital herpes.
  • For heterosexual women living with one partner, the risk of contracting HSV-2 is 10%. This risk increases to 40%, 62% and more than 80% as the number of lifetime partners increases to 2-10, 11-50, or more than 50, respectively.
  • For homosexual men, seroprevalence increases from more than 60% to 90% for those with 11-50 partners and those with more than 50 partners.
  • As HSV-2 infection is an ulcerative disease, it increases the risk of acquisition of HIV by 2 to 4.

Herpes Statistics on Shedding:

Statistics may vary greatly from study to study.

  • HSV-2 genital herpes shedding lasts 15%-20% of days.
  • HSV-2 oral herpes shedding lasts 3-5% of days.
  • HSV-1 oral herpes shedding lasts 18% of days.
  • HSV-2 oral herpes lasts 1% of days.
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