Screening check
Should I be screened for genital herpes?
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection. The US Preventive Services Task Force looked at whether people without symptoms, including pregnant people, should have a routine blood test for it. Check what it says for you.
About you
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What you will see
What the USPSTF says about genital herpes screening for you.
Educational only, not medical advice. See a clinician about any genital sores or symptoms.
Source
US Preventive Services Task Force, February 2023 reaffirmation of its recommendation on serologic screening for genital herpes infection.
Validated in
Adolescents and adults, including pregnant people, with no known history, signs or symptoms of genital herpes.
Limits
It is not a test and cannot tell whether you have herpes. It does not cover people with symptoms or a past diagnosis, or people with HIV or another immunosuppressive condition.
What the USPSTF recommends
| Who | Recommendation | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Adolescents and adults without symptoms, including pregnant people | Do not routinely screen for genital herpes with a blood test | D |
The 2023 statement is consistent with the 2016 recommendation (USPSTF 2023). "Without symptoms" means no known past or current genital herpes, and includes people who may have an infection they do not know about. People known to have genital herpes who are between outbreaks are not counted as asymptomatic. The recommendation does not apply to people asking for testing because of a history, signs or symptoms of genital herpes, or to people with HIV or other immunosuppressive disorders (USPSTF 2023).
Why it matters
Genital herpes is caused by two related viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Infection is lifelong and there is no cure, though antiviral medicines can help people with symptoms (USPSTF 2023). In a 2015–2016 US survey of people aged 14 to 49, about 12% had antibodies to HSV-2, and an estimated 22% of pregnant people may be HSV-2 positive. The virus can pass from a pregnant person to the baby, most often during delivery. Herpes in newborns is uncommon but can be serious (USPSTF 2023).
Why routine screening does not help
The widely available blood tests have low predictive value, so screening people without symptoms is expected to produce a high rate of false-positive results (USPSTF 2023). The USPSTF judged the harms, including anxiety and disruption of personal relationships after a diagnosis, to be at least moderate. For people with a positive blood test but no symptoms, it is not clear whether antiviral treatment is warranted. It concluded with moderate certainty that the harms of screening outweigh the benefits (USPSTF 2023).
Common questions
I am pregnant. Should I be tested?
Routine screening is not recommended in pregnancy either (USPSTF 2023). If you have had genital herpes, tell your clinician: when genital sores or warning symptoms are present at delivery, a cesarean delivery can lower the risk of passing the virus to the baby (USPSTF 2023).
What if I have sores or think I was exposed?
This recommendation is about routine screening only. If you have symptoms or a history of genital herpes, a clinician can test you and talk about treatment and how to protect partners (USPSTF 2023).
Also see the chlamydia and gonorrhea screening check, the syphilis screening check, the HIV screening check and all screening tests by age.
Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Serologic Screening for Genital Herpes Infection: US Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2023;329(6):502-507. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/genital-herpes-serologic-screening
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-30. Spotted an error? See About.