Aa
Suppression therapy/transmission from female to male
I have read that more females have hsv2 than males and transmission is easier from male to female..I think I understand that it's because the mucus cells lining the vaginal tract are more easily infected by penetration from the penis. But what are the modes of transmission from female to male other than the female having an obvious OB. I thought with viruses, bacteria etc there has to be a portal of entry. Is a pore in the skin the portal of entry? Is the male urethra a portal of entry? Why is it harder for a man to contract it from a female? Also if I've had hsv2 for 20yrs, take valtrex 500mg/daily, no OBs,(have had OBs just none w/suppressive therapy) and have unprotected sex with my boyfriend, how likely is he to contract it from me. How likely and often am I shedding the virus? And if I am shedding intravaginally will the virus enter his urethra?
Thank you mistakeguy..so do you suppose I was shedding the virus the day before my outbreak?
Yes. You are sheedding from those areas. The virus is active in those nerves and is being shedd during an outbreak.
So with each OB experienced we are also always shedding the virus in the entire vaginal/anal area as well? It's not possible to just have an OB and not shed from all the other areas?
yes, you are shedding from multiple areas, not just the area of the lesions.
if money is an issue, switch to generic acyclovir 2x/day.
if money is an issue, switch to generic acyclovir 2x/day.
I have a qt that I've not seen asked. For a refresher I am a female with hsv2 and my boyfriend does not.
I recently ran out of my generic valtrex..been off of it now for approx 1 month. I had a very small, minor OB about 2 weeks ago with no prodromal signs..just a little itch, looked and there it was. Lasted about 2 days. Last week my bf and I had unprotected sex..nothing vigorous and didn't last long although I know that doesn't always matter considering transmission.
Anyway the very next day, a little longer than 24hrs later I feel that familar itch, I look and there's another OB on my outer labia except more pronouced this time and again with no prodromal signs! The day before we had sex I had had a very stressful day at work.
As far as I know I've never experienced an OB intravaginally..they're always on my outer labia and once or twice near the vaginal opening.
So my qt is..was I possibly shedding the virus intravaginally before my OB and will it shed from different locations during an active OB in another location?
Thank you so much..you guys are the BEST!!
I recently ran out of my generic valtrex..been off of it now for approx 1 month. I had a very small, minor OB about 2 weeks ago with no prodromal signs..just a little itch, looked and there it was. Lasted about 2 days. Last week my bf and I had unprotected sex..nothing vigorous and didn't last long although I know that doesn't always matter considering transmission.
Anyway the very next day, a little longer than 24hrs later I feel that familar itch, I look and there's another OB on my outer labia except more pronouced this time and again with no prodromal signs! The day before we had sex I had had a very stressful day at work.
As far as I know I've never experienced an OB intravaginally..they're always on my outer labia and once or twice near the vaginal opening.
So my qt is..was I possibly shedding the virus intravaginally before my OB and will it shed from different locations during an active OB in another location?
Thank you so much..you guys are the BEST!!
all the herpes family viruses can reactivate periodically and can be transmitted to others without any obvious symptoms present. it's how they got classified as being herpes family viruses. it's what makes them unique.
shingles is herpes zoster virus being active and shedding, not just shedding.
shingles is herpes zoster virus being active and shedding, not just shedding.
The first response was meant to say without condoms there is 2% chance per year he will have the virus transmitted to him. Using a condom takes the risk to about 1% chance per year he will have the virus transmitted to him.
In your first response to my qt of transmission, did you mean to say "using condoms or not"? Just for clarifications sake and for others who may read this.
Is there research into why herpes simplex has to shed? It just seems odd. We all have other viruses that remain dormant in the sacral nerve root. Is shingles the shedding of the chickenpox virus?
dormant and do not shed.
Is there research into why herpes simplex has to shed? It just seems odd. We all have other viruses that remain dormant in the sacral nerve root. Is shingles the shedding of the chickenpox virus?
dormant and do not shed.
the virus sheds from the area of the actual lesion as well as from the entire anogenital area - think the soft pink parts in between our legs and our anal area. a partial hysterectomy would have no effect on herpes shedding.
the virus can infect your partner through the skin and also the urethra. the heat and friction of sex creates microscopic breaks in the skin through which the virus can penetrate.
don't hesitate to post a journal post about your own experiences with living with genital herpes :) That makes it easy for others to read about how it's been for you over the years :)
the virus can infect your partner through the skin and also the urethra. the heat and friction of sex creates microscopic breaks in the skin through which the virus can penetrate.
don't hesitate to post a journal post about your own experiences with living with genital herpes :) That makes it easy for others to read about how it's been for you over the years :)
Thank you so much for your prompt reply and thank you all equally as much and more for dedicating yourselves and time to REALLY help people in this matter. I too would so love to somehow help those who've either just been diagnosed or who just haven't done their research and may feel they're life is ruined, over, with a total loss esteem. I really wonder how many people are totally paralyzed by this
diagnosis and become severely depressed, forgetting and ceasing their goals and dreams, turning to alcoholism and drug abuse to cope, even take they're own lives. You know? I really wonder if this diagnosis is not behind some the problems in our society. It really breaks my heart!! :(
Can I ask another question? I know there's probably no sure answer to some is these questions and I have read conflicting research regarding viral shedding. Does viral shedding happen along the intravaginal walls, from the cervix, labia minora? If from the cervix would a partial hysterectomy take care of a lot of that? And also please for my bfs sake..if I were shedding the virus and we had unprotected sex at that precise time, would the virus infect him by going in through his urethra? I know it could if he had some penile excoriation. And are simple pores or hair follicle pores portals of entry for this virus?
diagnosis and become severely depressed, forgetting and ceasing their goals and dreams, turning to alcoholism and drug abuse to cope, even take they're own lives. You know? I really wonder if this diagnosis is not behind some the problems in our society. It really breaks my heart!! :(
Can I ask another question? I know there's probably no sure answer to some is these questions and I have read conflicting research regarding viral shedding. Does viral shedding happen along the intravaginal walls, from the cervix, labia minora? If from the cervix would a partial hysterectomy take care of a lot of that? And also please for my bfs sake..if I were shedding the virus and we had unprotected sex at that precise time, would the virus infect him by going in through his urethra? I know it could if he had some penile excoriation. And are simple pores or hair follicle pores portals of entry for this virus?
we gals have more soft mucous membrane type genital skin than the males do which leaves us more vulnerable to infection with herpes.
the length of time you are infected is meaningless as far as risk of transmission. we have studies that show that you still shed about the same amount after 20 years of being infected as someone who's been infected for 2 years. You being on daily suppressive therapy, avoiding sex during genital symptoms and not using condoms is about a 2% risk per year on average for your male partner.
grace
the length of time you are infected is meaningless as far as risk of transmission. we have studies that show that you still shed about the same amount after 20 years of being infected as someone who's been infected for 2 years. You being on daily suppressive therapy, avoiding sex during genital symptoms and not using condoms is about a 2% risk per year on average for your male partner.
grace
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
