Yes, it can lay dormant for 25 years. It is different for everyone, some people never know until they have already passed it on to their partner through viral shedding. It can lay dormant forever for one person while others suffer numerous outbreaks a year; others it will lay dormant for years then suddenly actively show symptoms. It is a tricky disease. As for the risks of not treating it: the main risk is passing it on to your partner. You can pass it on through an active outbreak or viral shedding (which happens in between outbreaks and there are no symptoms so you have no clue when it is occurring). Further risks to yourself are minimal, it can be painful for a short or long period of time (individual differences of course). There is a minimal risk of contaminating other parts of your body but this can be avoided as long as you wash your hands after touching the infected area.

Hope that helps!

ichiban

6/10/09 4:58pm

Yes this was very helpful - thank you very much.