Healthcare seeking and sexual behavior among patients with symptomatic newly acquired genital herpes.
BACKGROUND
Symptoms among patients with first episode herpes simplex virus (HSV) likely influence health seeking and sexual behavior. An improved understanding of this relationship provides insight into the experience of having genital herpes and has implications for counseling.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the healthcare seeking and sexual behavior in patients with symptomatic laboratory confirmed first episode HSV infection.


METHODS
Two hundred thirty-six patients (94 men and 142 women) with newly acquired genital herpes were asked to complete a demographic and sexual history questionnaire. To confirm initial HSV diagnosis, swabs of lesions were collected for viral culture and HSV DNA polymerase chain reaction and blood was drawn for confirmation of HSV serostatus using the Western blot.


RESULTS
Women reported pain and men reported lesions as the most frequent and bothersome symptom or sign causing each to seek healthcare. Forty-three percent of all participants missed some work or school because of their symptoms; women missed more school or work, sought care sooner, and saw more providers than men. Before diagnosis, most respondents (67%) suspected genital herpes was the etiology of the symptoms. Twenty-seven percent reported having sex after noticing their symptoms, though those who missed more school or work were less likely to engage in sexual intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
Men and women have different experiences with first episode HSV, but morbidity is substantial, especially among women. Both men and women may continue to engage in sexual activity after onset of genital herpes, emphasizing the need for providers to counsel their patients to avoid exposing partners to the infection.
Richards
Julie
J
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA.
Krantz
Elizabeth
E
Selke
Stacy
S
Wald
Anna
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral