HSV-2 transmission to someone who has oral HSV-1 and other issues...

[Nords76]

Hello,

I have posted here awhile back but I have things I am curious about regarding genital herpes and transmission.

Here is the situation :

I have genital herpes type 2, diagnosed with a swab. After two quick outbreaks, I have been on daily valacyclovir 500mg for the past 16 months. I have not had an outbreak for the last 16 months as far as I could tell. I sometimes have very slight itches but it doesn't feel like what I had before outbreaks and it goes away quickly. Probably my head messing with me given the current situation.

My current GF is aware of it and I have been extremely honest about the situation. The thing is that it almost feels like she doesn't care at all. We were tested for other STD, all negative, and SHE wants us to stop using condoms now. I'm not sure I'm totally comfortable with this. However, we did have intercourse without a condom about 4-5 times.

Which brings me to my question. She has oral herpes type 1 (cold sores) already she had one outbreak around the nose since we've been together. Would that protect her in any shape or form from having herpes type 2 transmitted to her ? Could she get infected and be asymptomatic ? My family doctor (yes a doctor) told me that having HSV-1 offers 'some' protection against HSV-2 but I have been reading otherwise. Could I be infected with HSV-1(not that I would care at this point...) ? That's a lot of questions I know and I apologize : )

If she should get infected should I feel guilty about it ? I don't think I would because I have been very honest and open about it. I wouldn't be happy about it either. She says that if it did happen it would be an accident and that she knew the risks.

That about sums it up. Perhaps I'm not the only one in this situation and maybe we can share our stories so we can feel a bit better.

Thanks for your time ! : )

[petal130]

This is not a risk. Genital herpes is called an STD for a reason; you have to have sex to transmit it, and needless to say we don't have that sort of contact with our kids. You're not a walking biohazard it you have herpes! I'd advise reading the Herpes Handbook so you know more about your herpes and how it's transmitted. http://westoverheights.com/herpes_handbook/index.html

[Nords76]

Hi Grace,

Thanks again for answering me, I really appreciate it.

I think this will probably be my last question with regards to herpes transmission for now. Although more may pop up later, who knows !!

As I said, I'm on daily valacyclovir 500mg and I haven't had a visible outbreak in 16 months.

Here is the situation :

As I was dressing my child to go outside, my thumb accidentally touched her face very close to her eye. I don't remember if I had washed my hands soon before the incident or not. I was wearing shorts so my hands might have come in contact with my skin in the 'boxer shorts' area in the minutes before this all happened.

Is there a risk of transmission to her eye from this incident ?

Thanks so much again : )

[gracefromHHP]

if she was going to notice symptoms, they would occur within 2-20 days after being infected.  

yes, she could not even notice symptoms of infection which is why periodic herpes testing is helpful to keep an eye on someone's status. We recommend just testing yearly in a discordant relationship unless symptoms develop.

[Nords76]

Hi Grace and thanks again for your answer. I apologize for the late reply on my behalf.

If my GF were to become infected, knowing that she's HSV-1 positive, how long would it take for symptoms to appear on the genital area ?

How long does it usually take in general for symptoms to appear in women, if different at all from men ?

Could it be asymptomatic ?

Thanks again for your time. It seems I have dozens of questions but I don't want to bother you too much. :D

Have a good day !

[gracefromHHP]

have had 2 pregnancies myself :)  I had c sections both times - once planned and the other not planned.  None of my friends with genital herpes who have kids have needed c sections nor have they transmitted the virus to the baby. The risk of transmission, if no obvious lesion is present and the virus was contracted prior to pregnancy is less than 1%.

if you know this won't be a forever after relationship and want to use condoms, just tell her that :)   I know I'd really appreciate the honesty and the concern myself since it's something that seems to be in short supply when dating about far too many things.

[Nords76]

Hi Grace ! Thanks for your answer again !! : )

I'm surprised I let this affect me the way it does. Normally, I don't have much feelings for these things you know. I mean I should just take what she said many times and forget about it, no ?

This is the stuff thats bothersome about genital herpes, not the virus itself and what it does physically.

One of the thing that bothers me the most is that she is fairly young and she's going to want to have children one day although I don't see me being the father. I have read that genital herpes can be very dangerous to a newborn child and I don't want to be responsible for her not being able to have children or endangering her future child.

Are there women who have genital herpes that have had successful pregnancies and deliveries ? Is a C-section mandatory ?

Thanks again for your time !

[gracefromHHP]

well dahlin', genital herpes is not the end of the world by no means!! She sees you dealing with it just fine, she knows if she does contract it, there are medications to control it - why would she be afraid of it?  

throwing a condom into the mix would bring her risk down to 2-3%/year of contracting hsv2 from you.

[Nords76]

Hi ! Thank you for responding : )

Yes, we have been tested for other stds (hep, hiv, etc...) and it all came back negative. Reason why she wants to stop using condoms.

The reason I'm writing is also that I don't understand her position on this even I tried having the conversation over and over again. I mean she doesn't seem to care. She's a happy-go-lucky person and she told me : if it happens it happens, it would be an accident and besides you've been very honest with me. I guess that's cool but still.

The previous GF we used a condom all the time for about a year we've been together and she didn't catch it.

I guess 4-5% chance is acceptable, a very low risk if at all. How low would using a condom bring that % down ?

Anything else I/we can do to prevent this ? I know herpes is more of a mild annoyance than anything else but I wouldn't want her to catch it.

Are there any other people in my situatio ? I'd like to talk with you : )

Thanks again !!

[gracefromHHP]

having hsv2 provides you with significant protection against hsv1. It doesn't work the other way around. Having hsv1, makes you more likely to not know you have hsv2 since it tends to take the "edge" off a hsv2 infection.

you would need to get a type specific herpes igg blood test to see your hsv1 status. same as if your partner hasn't been tested for hsv2, she should be.

if you are going to stop using condoms, have you both been properly tested for other std's?  A yearly pap isn't proper std testing either - just a fyi. have you both had your gardasil shots?

if you two did nothing but avoid sex anytime you had anything going on genitally and you continued on your daily suppressive therapy, she would have a 4-5% risk/year of contracting hsv2 from you. It's actually a lower risk of her becoming pregnant with real use of the birth control pill to give you something to compare it to ( 8% /year ).  

do couples stop using condoms after they've been together for awhile? Of course they do.  Totally up to the 2 of you and it's a choice you make together :)

grace