anal herpes

[Deejay83]

hi , i found out about 3 months ago that i have anal herpes (hsv2), since then i have had 1 minor outbreak. my question is, if i have vaginal intercourse with my girlfriend, can she catch it  even if i never have any outbreaks on my my or around my penis? Also whats the risk of her catching it if i receive oral sex ? also should i abstain from all sexual contact with my girlfriend while im having an outbreak, ? thanks in advance for your help.

[Mistakeguy789]

1. As long as you avoid sexual contact during anything going on in your genital area there is about a 96% chance per year she will not catch HSV-2.  

2) With antivirial therapy and a condom the chance she will not catch HSV-2 is about 99% per year as long as you avoid sexual contact during anything going on genitally.

[Deejay83]

thank all for your help, i just have two more questions.
1) while wearing a condom, what is the percentage of my girlfriend contracting the hsv2 through sexual intercourse while there is no outbreak?
2) how effective is the antiviral daily therapy, what is the chance of  my girlfriend contracting hsv2 while im on the antiviral daily therapy?

i will also read the handbook you suggested, thanks again

[gracefromHHP]

it's well worth taking the time to read the free herpes handbook that we recommend in our read before posting post on this forum. it's free and has terrific info on herpes. it also explains the differences in the way to treat your herpes.

[Deejay83]

No it hasnt been brought to my attention, what is it?

[Mistakeguy789]

Sure you could have that.  Your docotor has no way of knowing how long you have had it.  He could be right and he could be wrong.  There is no way to know what one person's outbreak pattern will be.  The swab should be believed.  Have you considered antivirial daily therapy?

[Deejay83]

Also forgot to mention that the doctor said that I have had it for a while so wasnt recent

[Deejay83]

I had a swab test and they came back with hsv2 result. The out break that I have had has only been the size of a pimple so it was very minimal, is it possible that I can go on with the rest of my life only having minor outbreaks and just in the anal, ?thanks again for all ur help

[Mistakeguy789]

The virus lives in the nerves that are supplied to your skin in the genital area so your entire "boxer-short" region is where the virus can show up with symptoms.  During an outbreak you are infectious.  Also you have periods of times where no symptoms are present but you shedd the virus.

All contact with your genital area should be avoided during an outbreak.  Including oral sex being performed on you.  You may perform oral sex on your partner and kiss so forth.  Oral sex is a low risk for herpes and HSV-2 orally is rare but it can happen.  HSV-2 doesn't really like the oral location.  

Condoms only provide about 30% protection against HSV as the virus is on the skin during an outbreak you can transmit it.  

[gracefromHHP]

correct - the location of symptoms is pretty much meaningless - it's all the same nerve group.

what testing did you have done to diagnose you?

condoms are not 100% protection against transmission of herpes.

[Deejay83]

so doesnt matter where the initial herpes is contracted (anal or groin area) once u get its all in the genitals and is infectious in all.
she hasnt been tested, but ive always worn a condom when having intercourse with her,  so she most likely doesnt have it. When you say I should avoid having sex when there is a recurrence , do u mean just intercourse or all sexual contact including oral? And also if I receive oral sex can i pass it on to her or is it unlikely? Thanks in advance for your help.

[gracefromHHP]

you actually have genital herpes too, not just anal herpes.   when you have a recurrence of your herpes, you need to be avoiding sex with your gf until it's healed if she doesn't have hsv2.

has your gf been tested to know her own status?


grace