Aa
questions
A few months ago someone I care for very much was drugged and raped, she caught herpes from it. She has only had 2 out breaks on her perineum, I am worried I may catch it from her. Obviously I don't want to leave her, because this happened to her, and it is obviously not her fault. As I understand it is possible to be with a person who has it and you yourself, never get it, as long as you are careful. Some of the preventive ways I have heard are obviously using a condom, anti viral medication and washing before sex in order to kill any asymptomatic shedding that may be happening. She is for the most part asymptomatic and only gets one red bump when she has a outbreak (even during her first outbreak which is supposed to be the worst, it does not crust or puss at all it just eventually goes away).
1. She has not had any outbreaks in her vagina at all. The way I understand it is that the virus only reproduces (asymptomatic shedding) on the break out spots. So could she have shedding in her vagina even though she has never had any out breaks/sores in her vagina?
2. Her doctor told her that as long as she is taking her anti viral medication I cannot get it , if there is not a actual soar (which I don't think is accurate). The doctor also said that me wearing a condom would not prevent anything, because she has her out breaks on her perineum, which a condom does not protect me from.
This discussion is related to Confused about diagnosis.
1. She has not had any outbreaks in her vagina at all. The way I understand it is that the virus only reproduces (asymptomatic shedding) on the break out spots. So could she have shedding in her vagina even though she has never had any out breaks/sores in her vagina?
2. Her doctor told her that as long as she is taking her anti viral medication I cannot get it , if there is not a actual soar (which I don't think is accurate). The doctor also said that me wearing a condom would not prevent anything, because she has her out breaks on her perineum, which a condom does not protect me from.
This discussion is related to Confused about diagnosis.
if you've never been tested for herpes, you need to pursue testing for yourself. assume nothing!
yes the 96% reduction is just avoiding sex during anything going on genitally - no condom, no daily suppressive therapy. just the most simplest of precaution.
why do so many folks have hsv2? Because the vast majority of people who have hsv2 have no idea they have it. Don't know you don't have it and you are more likely to have sex during active symptoms thinking they are something else.
her washing up before sex as well as douching to kill any virus on the skin in her vagina won't protect you. the 96% rate of reduction each year isn't with anything special at all either.
yes the 96% reduction is just avoiding sex during anything going on genitally - no condom, no daily suppressive therapy. just the most simplest of precaution.
why do so many folks have hsv2? Because the vast majority of people who have hsv2 have no idea they have it. Don't know you don't have it and you are more likely to have sex during active symptoms thinking they are something else.
her washing up before sex as well as douching to kill any virus on the skin in her vagina won't protect you. the 96% rate of reduction each year isn't with anything special at all either.
I do not have anything, I haven't even slept with her yet at all. She did not get a blood test done but they told her it was hsv-2. You said that you have a 96% chance of not getting it as long as there is no sex during outbreaks do you mean without a condom?
That seems a little high to say that I have a 96% chance of not getting it. So if thats the case how in the hell does 25% of america have it? Further more she was raped once and contracted it from that one time, the chances of that seem extremely slim of course unless the piece of **** had a outbreak at the time.
I have read that the virus is very weak and that before and after sex hot water can kill it, are you saying this is inaccurate? I understand that the virus has to come to the surface of the skin but it is normally in the nerves. So with that being said logic would deduce that if there was any active virus present on the outer skin (which there has to be to pass it unless you get it from inside the vagina) that would kill the virus on the surface.
That seems a little high to say that I have a 96% chance of not getting it. So if thats the case how in the hell does 25% of america have it? Further more she was raped once and contracted it from that one time, the chances of that seem extremely slim of course unless the piece of **** had a outbreak at the time.
I have read that the virus is very weak and that before and after sex hot water can kill it, are you saying this is inaccurate? I understand that the virus has to come to the surface of the skin but it is normally in the nerves. So with that being said logic would deduce that if there was any active virus present on the outer skin (which there has to be to pass it unless you get it from inside the vagina) that would kill the virus on the surface.
washing before sex probably has little effect on transmission, if any even. The virus doesn't just live on the skin, it's far deeper than that and during the sex act itself more virus will be present.
have you been tested to know your own status yet?
I know from your prior post on the experts forum that your partner only ever had a lesion culture done. did she ever pursue a type specific herpes igg blood test to see her full hsv1 and hsv2 status?
if you are hsv2 negative and she is hsv2+, if all you do is avoid sex anytime she has active symptoms genitally, you are 96% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from her. If you also use condoms and she takes daily suppressive therapy, you are 99% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from her. Very low odds in general.
1 - the virus is present in active lesions as well as from the entire anogenital area. It also sheds periodically from the anogenital area in between obvious lesions. It's not just the area she's had obvious lesions in so far. makes no difference if ob's are always on the buttocks or on the actual genital skin - same exact risk.
2 - you can still contract hsv2 but the risk is cut in half with daily suppressive therapy with valtrex. a condom reduces transmission by 30% on average. it helps but it's not 100% protection.
grace
have you been tested to know your own status yet?
I know from your prior post on the experts forum that your partner only ever had a lesion culture done. did she ever pursue a type specific herpes igg blood test to see her full hsv1 and hsv2 status?
if you are hsv2 negative and she is hsv2+, if all you do is avoid sex anytime she has active symptoms genitally, you are 96% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from her. If you also use condoms and she takes daily suppressive therapy, you are 99% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from her. Very low odds in general.
1 - the virus is present in active lesions as well as from the entire anogenital area. It also sheds periodically from the anogenital area in between obvious lesions. It's not just the area she's had obvious lesions in so far. makes no difference if ob's are always on the buttocks or on the actual genital skin - same exact risk.
2 - you can still contract hsv2 but the risk is cut in half with daily suppressive therapy with valtrex. a condom reduces transmission by 30% on average. it helps but it's not 100% protection.
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.
