we both take antiviral meds

[marsha928]

Hi Have genital herpes and take Valtrex daily to help prevent the transmission of it to my new BF.  I just found out that he has oral herpes and takes daily antiviral meds.   Does us both being on daily meds help even more so with the chance of transmission of my Herpes 2 to him and his to me.  Can a person have both types 1 & 2 at the same time?  Or should I even worry about me getting oral herpes since I already have type 2.  Does him taking daily meds help at all with him getting type 2 from me.  Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

Has your bf been tested for hsv2 too to know what his hsv2 status is?  

The research we have doesn't show any protection in uninfected partners if they take daily suppressive therapy ( it's only research in animals ).  

Yes you can have hsv1 and hsv2 both.  Typically it's hsv1 orally and hsv2 genitally but about 5% of folks have both kinds genitally.  

The info we have shows that hsv2 provides some protection against contracting hsv1. However the reverse isn't true - hsv1 doesn't provide any significant protection against contracting hsv2.  You being on suppressive therapy , avoiding sex during obvious genital symptoms and using condoms means on average your man will have a 1% risk each year of contracting hsv2 from you.

Just as an fyi - should your man and you ever break up and he wants to know what his hsv2 status is specifically from the relationship with you - he should stop his suppressive therapy for a few months before getting himself tested. Same as with now - if it's been less than 4 months since he last had sex with someone - he should stop the suppressive therapy for a few months and then get his baseline hsv2 igg testing done to know what his status is before you and he are intimate.  His being on suppressive therapy could delay seroconversion for the blood tests to be accurate.  

grace