Preventing Genital Herpes Transmission

This may sound like a dumb question but what ff you tape the infected area with genital herpes with duct tape and use a condom wouldn't that prevent a chance of transmitting it?

[CJC2011]

There's no such thing as a dumb question, especially in an area as confusing as this.  

I don't think that duct tape is going to help much.  For one, it may be porous enough for the virus to pass through it and two, HSV-2 positive people shed from the entire genital area, although a herpes sore contains much more of the virus.  

[KoolKid]

I see. It just seems hopeless to truly keep this virus under control.

[Still_Worried_]

I'm crossing my fingers for VivaGel, in clinical trials now, that is a microbicide gel that effectively protects against HSV (and other STD's).  

Ahhh!  I'm so excited for it.

[gracefromHHP]

taping up the lesion and wearing a condom is still a risk to a partner. bottom line is if you have herpes and your partner doesn't, anytime you have symptoms or think you might have them, avoid sex.

when you have an active lesion, the virus sheds from the area of the lesion as well as from the entire anogenital area. just covering up the lesion isn't going to protect your partner adequately.  

grace

[KoolKid]

Ok then I understand. I was trying to figure out if that would provide more protection when no symptoms are present.

[gracefromHHP]

are you on daily suppressive therapy to reduce transmission to an uninfected partner by 50%?

[KoolKid]

I have been newly diagnosed. I haven't been prescribed any medication as of yet. Was wondering what I can do in addition to medication. It only reduces transmission by 50%? I read its as much as 80% is that wrong?

[CJC2011]

I believe that it reduced shedding by 50%.  There's a study that shows that if you avoid sex during an outbreak or any other time you have any prodrome symptoms, use condoms correctly and take suppressive therapy, the chance of transmitting the virus to your partner is something like 2-4% per year, if you have sex like 2-3 times per week.  That's not too bad.  

[gracefromHHP]

it reduces transmission by 50%. it reduces shedding by 80-90% for most folks.  I know HHH has alluded to if they took out the folks who weren't taking their medication daily, the rates of reduction in transmission were higher ( closer to 75% if I recall ), but we still go with the published reduction rate because honestly real use means not remembering to take pills every single day so it's probably closer to the 50% reduction for most folks.

do you have hsv1 or hsv2 genitally koolkid? has your partner been tested yet to know their status?

[ksantama]

Grace

are these numbers speaking in terms of  studies done on HSV 2 or does it apply to HSV 1 as well?

[gracefromHHP]

only to hsv2.  we can't study hsv1 genitally as easily as we can hsv2 since it doesn't shed often, doesn't reoccur very often and so many adults already have it orally.

[KoolKid]

I have HSV 2 and know my partner hasn't been tested as of yet.

[gracefromHHP]

well certainly get your partner tested and then go from there as far as deciding together what precautions to take from this point forward.