herpes myth ??

I read somewhere that having "regular" sex with a partner that has HSV-2 for an 8 month period, the chances of you catching HSV-2 is 3%.  My question is there any truth to that or is it a total myth?

[gracefromHHP]

It depends on what your gender is.

I'm assuming you are talking about the info that comes from the valtrex and reduction in transmission to a partner study. If so - I think it's easier to think year than 8 month period.  If you are a hsv2+ male involved with a hsv2- female, the male is on daily suppresive therapy, you avoid sex during obvious genital symptoms and you don't use condoms ( like a typical long term relationship probably would be doing ) then the female has a 4-5% risk each year of contracting hsv2 from her partner.  reverse it - hsv2+ female and hsv2- male - suppressive therapy for the female, no condoms and avoiding sex during genital symptoms and the male has a 2% risk each year of contracting hsv2 from his female partner.

Were you expecting higher odds of transmission perhaps?

grace

[waringblender]

I lurve that study. :o)

Anecdotally, I've been in both long-term and short-term relationships with partners and never passed it. The medication works.

[mickey1234567]

well, I've been in a long term relationship.  Approx a year ago we were split for a short period and I had a stupid drunken one night stand(protected and then unprotected).  Two weeks ago my long time girlfriend had irritation and bumps for a couple of days that cleared up by the weekend.  We had sex, then the symptoms came back on Monday and then I started showing symptoms on Tuesday.  She went to her doctor(specialist) and was diagnosed as a severe yeast infection.  I went to a doctor(gp) and he said it looked like herpes.  She went back to her doctor and told him this and he said without a doubt that she had a yeast infection.  I went for a blood test and am still waiting for the results.  

[mickey1234567]

also the girl that I had the one night stand with never told me anything, but after the fact i heard a rumor that she had herpes.  So needless to say I have no idea if she was taking medication or not!!

The anxiety is killing me.. I keep reading these forum posts and cant seem to find any hard facts.  And when I get my blood test results back I dont know to trust them or not.  

[waringblender]

Probably not a good idea to live your life by "rumors."

Symptoms of herpes don't show up, clear up in 2 days, then show up again.

[mickey1234567]

i dont like rumors and thought very little of it at the time, but then when my girl had symptoms and then I had them and then the doctor said that is what he thought it was, I gave it some serious attention.