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A common question concerning genital herpes is the following: “Whose more likely to get genital herpes?” This article explains how common genital herpes is for an individual based on such factors as age, race, sex, and the number of sexual partners.

Genital herpes can be caused by two different herpes viruses – herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). In the past, genital herpes was almost always caused by HSV-2 and oral herpes was almost always caused by HSV-1. This has changed recently and for some groups in society (like college students) genital herpes is more likely to come from HSV-1.

Why is this important? Well, when any statistic concerning genital herpes is seen online or in the news usually only HSV-2 is being reported. HSV-1 actually accounts for 30% to 70% of new genital herpes cases. This makes the numbers that you see being reported smaller than the actual numbers. So for example if you read somewhere that 20% of females are infected with genital herpes, then the actual number is somewhere between 26% and 34%.

Why is it that HSV-1 is not being included in statistics concerning genital herpes? The reason for this hinges on the method used to test for genital herpes. A blood test is used to detect antibodies for HSV-1 and HSV-2. Whenever HSV-2 is detected then it is almost certainly attributable to genital herpes. With HSV-1 this is not possible. You see HSV-1 causes oral herpes as well so it becomes very difficult to differentiate between oral and genital herpes. With over 60% of adults in the US being infected with oral herpes you are going to have many people testing positive for HSV-1.

All of the numbers quoted below will only include HSV-2 and will be undercounting by 30% to 70%. Even without including HSV-1 some of these statistics are going to seem very high. Over 50% of some female groups are infected with genital herpes! It helps to remember that most people with genital herpes have such mild symptoms that they will go through life not knowing that they are carrying this virus. Regardless of whether a person knows they are infected or not they can still spread the virus to others.

Here are some interesting facts concerning whose more likely to get genital herpes.

Women are twice as likely as men to be infected with genital herpes – 23% versus 11%. This difference is attributable both to anatomical differences as well as the weakened immune response associated with pregnancy and menstruation.

Race also has an effect on genital herpes infection. Mexican-Americans have a 12% chance of being infected. Caucasians have a 14% chance of being infected. And African-Americans have a 40% chance of being infected. There is a stark jump in infections for African-Americans and this has been blamed – at least in part – on poorer socio-economic conditions.

As you get older you are going to have more sexual partners and more opportunities for exposure. So it should come as no surprise that the chances of being infected increase with age as follows: (14-19: 2%), (20-29: 11%), (30-39: 22%), (40-49: 26%).

Drug use is also a factor. Cocaine users are more than twice as likely to have genital herpes – 29% versus 15%. This makes sense since cocaine is a social drug and being high definitely impairs one’s judgment when it comes to sexual activity.

By far the most important factor governing how likely a person is to be infected with genital herpes is the number of lifetime sexual partners – (0 partners: 3%), (1 partner: 4%), (2 to 4 partners: 13%), (5 to 9 partners: 21%), (10 to 49 partners: 27%), (Greater than 50 partners: 40%).

So the answer to the question “whose more likely to get genital herpes?” is an African-American Female in her forties who has experimented with cocaine and had more than 50 sexual partners.