Avoiding Herpes

Doctor,

I recently met and am dating a woman who disclosed to me that her prior boyfriend had herpes.  She was sexually active with him for 3-4 months (the duration of their relationship).  She said that he was on medication and they used protection, and that she has tested negative (although I don't know what test she took).  Also, I have not asked her, but I assume she did not use protection for oral sex with him.

We are not sexually active, except I receive oral sex from her.

I would like to know how/if I can protect myself in this situation.  She parted ways with her ex-boyfriend about a month ago, so I would guess that it was been around a month since her last potential exposure.  What can we do to determine if she is really herpes-free?  If she does have herpes, would she become symptomatic sometime in the next couple months (in which case we can "wait and see")?  If that approach is not viable (i.e. if she can be positive but not symptomatic), what type of test/tests can she take that would yield the most accurate results (again, assuming she shows no symptoms)?  Thank you.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

If she still tests negative in 3-4 months by type specific IgG antibody test for the type that he had (HSV 1 or HSV 2), then I think you can consider her to be truly negative.  She might or might not ever become aware of symptoms if she is infected.  

By the way, have you ever been tested for herpes so you can be certain that you are presenting no risk to her?  Depending upon your previous sexual experiences, frequency of partner change, and number of partners, you could also be infected and not know it.  From my perspective, its nice to know exactly where everyone stands.  

Did she test negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2 when she did test?

Terri

[frasiercranium]

Thank you very much.  I am happy to wait to be safe.  I will of course get tested as well and will ask about her prior test details.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Great!