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Herpes Transmission to Other Body Sites
by lvglife, Mar 30, 2009 01:35AM
Hi Dr-
First off, thank you for all the wonderful advice and support that you provide. This is my first post here but I have read myriad of your other consults and have found them helpful, informative, and often uplifting. Please keep up the good work.
I was recently diagnosed with HSV2 Genital, and after my intial diagnosis I was super paranoid about autoinnoculation. I was washing my hads so much and using so much Purel it was ridiculous. I have calmed down since as the initial shock of my diagnosis has worn off, but I was wondering if you could shed some light on the bottom line risks of aquiring herpetic whitlow or transmitting HSV2 to my mouth/eyes/nose through my own contact. Does my body develop antibodies that help ward off infection in other sites? I am taking 1000mg daily of Valtrex as suppresive therapy. My first outbreak was deemed by a healthcare worker to be of medium severity and duration for an inital outbreak, and was about three months ago. I have not had any more since. I don't know if this information matters or not, just want to be thorough. I am healthy, exercise rigorously, and eat well, although I do drink probably more than I should.
Secondly, I have maintained my physical relation ship with the woman who infected me. She claims that she did not know, I believe her, and she has since been tested positive for HSV2. I assume her infection to be genital as well, as she has not had any oral outbreaks and can remember one time when things "weren't right" in the genital region but dismissed it as a yeast infection. If we are both outbreak free, is it safe to perform unprotected oral sex on each other, or does this heighten the risk of transmitting to each other orally? Also, is it true that oral HSV2 usually only activates once and then lies dormant?
I'm sorry that there are so many questions here, and you've probably answered them all hundreds of times. I'm just looking for a direct answer that will help us shape our sexual behavior in the most safe and appropriate way.
Thanks
First off, thank you for all the wonderful advice and support that you provide. This is my first post here but I have read myriad of your other consults and have found them helpful, informative, and often uplifting. Please keep up the good work.
I was recently diagnosed with HSV2 Genital, and after my intial diagnosis I was super paranoid about autoinnoculation. I was washing my hads so much and using so much Purel it was ridiculous. I have calmed down since as the initial shock of my diagnosis has worn off, but I was wondering if you could shed some light on the bottom line risks of aquiring herpetic whitlow or transmitting HSV2 to my mouth/eyes/nose through my own contact. Does my body develop antibodies that help ward off infection in other sites? I am taking 1000mg daily of Valtrex as suppresive therapy. My first outbreak was deemed by a healthcare worker to be of medium severity and duration for an inital outbreak, and was about three months ago. I have not had any more since. I don't know if this information matters or not, just want to be thorough. I am healthy, exercise rigorously, and eat well, although I do drink probably more than I should.
Secondly, I have maintained my physical relation ship with the woman who infected me. She claims that she did not know, I believe her, and she has since been tested positive for HSV2. I assume her infection to be genital as well, as she has not had any oral outbreaks and can remember one time when things "weren't right" in the genital region but dismissed it as a yeast infection. If we are both outbreak free, is it safe to perform unprotected oral sex on each other, or does this heighten the risk of transmitting to each other orally? Also, is it true that oral HSV2 usually only activates once and then lies dormant?
I'm sorry that there are so many questions here, and you've probably answered them all hundreds of times. I'm just looking for a direct answer that will help us shape our sexual behavior in the most safe and appropriate way.
Thanks
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You really don't have to worry about transmitting your herpes to other body parts. Just wash your hands as usual after using the toilet or touching yourself intimately - it's all it takes.
You and your gf can perform oral on each other as long as no obvious symptoms are present. Both of you have significant protection against contracting hsv2 orally.
It's up to you if you want to continue on suppressive therapy or not since transmission isn't an issue. If you haven't already, read the herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com for terrific ( and free ) info on herpes .
grace