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HSV shedding
Hi - I'm a mid-30's male. I was diagnosed with genital herpes about a year ago. I got this from a protected one night stand, so I definitely beat the odds, in a negative way. I was dx via viral culture. I have not had blood test to determine type, but pretty sure it's type II. Not married, thank goodness.
Had initial outbreak (mild) and then went immediately on 500 mg. daily valtrex for suppression and have not had any outbreaks since. I'm obviously concerned about the future of my sex life. My questions are as follows:
1) Does it matter what type I have, should i get it confirmed?
2) Since I haven't had a second outbreak in nearly a year on a low dose suppressive antiviral, does this have any indicaiton as to the strength of the infection i have?
3) Is there any way at all to know how often I asymptmatically shed? Since I'm on antivirals and haven't had a second outbreak, does that indicate I may have a low shedding rate or frequency?
4) Does receiving a hand job without a condom present any real risk to a potential partner (with no outbreak).
5) Does protected vaginal sex (with a condom) without an outbreak present a risk to a potential partner, or to me for contracting something else (i.e. HIV or HPV)? I've read that herpes makes oy more susceptable to other STDs.
Thank you for your time and feedback.
Had initial outbreak (mild) and then went immediately on 500 mg. daily valtrex for suppression and have not had any outbreaks since. I'm obviously concerned about the future of my sex life. My questions are as follows:
1) Does it matter what type I have, should i get it confirmed?
2) Since I haven't had a second outbreak in nearly a year on a low dose suppressive antiviral, does this have any indicaiton as to the strength of the infection i have?
3) Is there any way at all to know how often I asymptmatically shed? Since I'm on antivirals and haven't had a second outbreak, does that indicate I may have a low shedding rate or frequency?
4) Does receiving a hand job without a condom present any real risk to a potential partner (with no outbreak).
5) Does protected vaginal sex (with a condom) without an outbreak present a risk to a potential partner, or to me for contracting something else (i.e. HIV or HPV)? I've read that herpes makes oy more susceptable to other STDs.
Thank you for your time and feedback.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Yet-Another-Hand-Job-Question/show/248064
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/STD-from-a-hand-job/show/545033
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/STD-from-a-hand-job/show/545033
I have seen conflicting info on STD transmission from a hand job (female to male). What about HSV, HPV or syphillis from a HJ? I'm trying to discern the difference between "possible" vs. actual risk or probability. It would seem very, very low but I know its not 0%. Any feedback would be welcomed. Thanks.
actually if you weren't tested for herpes before your obvious symptoms and you didn't have a blood test at the same time as your lesion culture, no way to know if that was the partner you contracted it from. About 1/2 of all presumed recently acquired infections are actually just the first obvious recurrence of a prior infection. condoms of course are not 100% protection though either - at this point you might never figure it out.
hpv and syphilis are also contracted even with protected sex. unfortunately most folks don't use condoms properly to best protect themselves - the condom should go on when the clothes come off. Just waiting to actual penetration like most folks do allows for a lot of naked contact that is a risk for std's :( Proper use of a condom reduces the risk of hpv by 90%.
if you have a female partner who is hsv2 negative and you have hsv2, if you did nothing but avoid sex anytime you have anything going on genitally, she is 90-92% likely each year not to contract hsv2 from you. If you also take daily suppressive therapy and use condoms in addition to that precaution, she is 97-98% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you. To give you something to compare that risk to - the real risk of becoming pregnant while only using the birth control pill is 8%. So a partner is more likely to become pregnant from you than to contract your herpes :)
nothing you can't do sexually because of herpes - you are not a walking biohazard!!! ( seems to be a lot of thinking going on on the forum this week )
hpv and syphilis are also contracted even with protected sex. unfortunately most folks don't use condoms properly to best protect themselves - the condom should go on when the clothes come off. Just waiting to actual penetration like most folks do allows for a lot of naked contact that is a risk for std's :( Proper use of a condom reduces the risk of hpv by 90%.
if you have a female partner who is hsv2 negative and you have hsv2, if you did nothing but avoid sex anytime you have anything going on genitally, she is 90-92% likely each year not to contract hsv2 from you. If you also take daily suppressive therapy and use condoms in addition to that precaution, she is 97-98% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you. To give you something to compare that risk to - the real risk of becoming pregnant while only using the birth control pill is 8%. So a partner is more likely to become pregnant from you than to contract your herpes :)
nothing you can't do sexually because of herpes - you are not a walking biohazard!!! ( seems to be a lot of thinking going on on the forum this week )
Thanks for all of the help so far. A couple of follow-up questions.
First, I'm obviously quite gun shy now having been bitten by the HSV virus, even with a condom on. Can you tell me which other STD's are notably transferable even during safe sex with a condom? I've read HPV is, but I don't know how easily or which others I need to be concerned about. It seems the term "safe sex" is really misleading.
Second, since I haven't had a second outbreak in a year, and am on daily suppressive therapy, what are the odds of me transferring HSV to a partner if i wear a condom, don't have an outbreak, and am on suppressive antivirals?
I'm hoping to regain at least some semblance of a normal sex life. I'm actually pretty distraught over this terrible stroke of bad luck I had last year and am having a difficult time dealing with it. Thank you.
First, I'm obviously quite gun shy now having been bitten by the HSV virus, even with a condom on. Can you tell me which other STD's are notably transferable even during safe sex with a condom? I've read HPV is, but I don't know how easily or which others I need to be concerned about. It seems the term "safe sex" is really misleading.
Second, since I haven't had a second outbreak in a year, and am on daily suppressive therapy, what are the odds of me transferring HSV to a partner if i wear a condom, don't have an outbreak, and am on suppressive antivirals?
I'm hoping to regain at least some semblance of a normal sex life. I'm actually pretty distraught over this terrible stroke of bad luck I had last year and am having a difficult time dealing with it. Thank you.
Thanks everyone for the feedback.
So are hand jobs really virtually a 0% risk for both parties, even considering the potential for asymptomatic shedding? Thanks.
So are hand jobs really virtually a 0% risk for both parties, even considering the potential for asymptomatic shedding? Thanks.
Quackery. Grace will agree.
You can always check out clinicaltrials.gov to see what's in the pipeline for herpes. But no, doubtful we'll see a vaccine or cure for a good few years at least.
You can always check out clinicaltrials.gov to see what's in the pipeline for herpes. But no, doubtful we'll see a vaccine or cure for a good few years at least.
Grace - thank you so much for the quick and thorough reply.
One last question, do you have any experience or advice regarding the "One Minute Herpes Cure" that can be found on the internet? I know it's probably just another scam, but thought I'd ask. There are no vaccines or medical cures on the horizon either, are there?
One last question, do you have any experience or advice regarding the "One Minute Herpes Cure" that can be found on the internet? I know it's probably just another scam, but thought I'd ask. There are no vaccines or medical cures on the horizon either, are there?
yes indeed type does matter! You and your future partners can't make educated decisions about what precautions to take until you know who has what. Hsv1 genitally sheds far less , reoccurs less often and usually doesn't require daily suppressive therapy to protect a partner. also many folks already have hsv1 which protects them from getting it genitally.
that's not low dose suppressive therapy, that's the standard dose. It certainly isn't unheard of not to have had a recurrence in a year. It works, hence why we recommend it :)
No such thing as a "milder" hsv2 infection as far as the "strength " of the infection. Most folks all shed the virus about the same amount, regardless of the number of recurrences they have.
on average, folks with hsv2 shed about 15% of days while not on daily suppressive therapy. suppressive therapy reduces shedding by 80% on average.
hand jobs are not risks for std's.
condoms work, hence why we recommend proper use of them. A condom should go on when the clothing comes off to fully protect you, not just wait until actual penetration to put it on.
grace
that's not low dose suppressive therapy, that's the standard dose. It certainly isn't unheard of not to have had a recurrence in a year. It works, hence why we recommend it :)
No such thing as a "milder" hsv2 infection as far as the "strength " of the infection. Most folks all shed the virus about the same amount, regardless of the number of recurrences they have.
on average, folks with hsv2 shed about 15% of days while not on daily suppressive therapy. suppressive therapy reduces shedding by 80% on average.
hand jobs are not risks for std's.
condoms work, hence why we recommend proper use of them. A condom should go on when the clothing comes off to fully protect you, not just wait until actual penetration to put it on.
grace
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
