Increased Transmission Risk - shaving irritation

[GeorgiaT]

Do lesions and sores I get from ingrown hairs, shaving and waxing the genital area increase my risk of contracting herpes from my infected male partner?  I'm a female, not infected.  I'm concerned that he could be shedding and open sores on my genital area would greatly increase my risk of contracting the virus.

[gracefromHHP]

if you are female and he is male, encourage him to start daily suppressive therapy - it cuts your risk in half.

you should be avoiding sex anytime the skin in your genital area isn't intact - whether you have a partner with herpes or not.  

he being on daily suppressive therapy, using condoms and avoiding sex whenever he has anything going on genitally gets your risk down to 2-3%/year of contracting hsv2 from him.  you might want to consider just keeping your pubic hair short instead of taking it all off - less rashes.

[GeorgiaT]

We haven't had sexual contact yet. He recently disclosed that he has had genital herpes for about 10 years. He hasn't had a breakout in many years and has not infected any other partners, to his knowledge. I'm concerned that my body issues-an easily and often irritated genital area-increase my risk greatly. We're trying to decide whether to move forward or not and I'd like to know how much my risk of contracting the virus is increased

[gracefromHHP]

yes it would increase your risk.

do you have a regular partner? if so, have they  been tested for herpes to know their status?

grace