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HSV and Oral Sex
I was diagnosed with HSV2 by both blood test +1.99 and Western Blot. Tested negative for HSV1. Have never had any symptons or outbreaks. Got tested because believe ex husband had it. Regarding oral sex, what is chance/risk to male of me giving oral sex to male partner. (I'm female). Also, what is risk of male giving me oral sex. I am on suppressive therapy as well.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Your positive blood test results only confirm that you have antibodies to HSV2, which would mean that you have been exposed to HSV2, possibly being immune to HSV2, but would not necessarily mean that you have HSV2 infection or that you can transmit it, especially if you mention that you have never had any symptoms of HSV2, whcih usually causes genital herpes with very sever symptoms of a very painful blistery rash with general malaise.
Regarding oral sex and risk of HSV2 transmission, it all depends where the infection is located. As it is mostly present in the genitals, the risk of infection would be for the person performing the oral sex whilst the other person is having an acute outbreak. In absence of symptoms, transmission is much less likely. If you perform oral sex, I do not believe there would be any risk of HSV2 infection for your partner; and in the case of you receiving oral sex by your partner, there would only be a risk if it is done whilst you are havign an outbreak as your partner might get it in his mouth. However the fact that you have never had any symptoms and you do have antibodies against HSV2, I think this would be highly unlikely.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Your positive blood test results only confirm that you have antibodies to HSV2, which would mean that you have been exposed to HSV2, possibly being immune to HSV2, but would not necessarily mean that you have HSV2 infection or that you can transmit it, especially if you mention that you have never had any symptoms of HSV2, whcih usually causes genital herpes with very sever symptoms of a very painful blistery rash with general malaise.
Regarding oral sex and risk of HSV2 transmission, it all depends where the infection is located. As it is mostly present in the genitals, the risk of infection would be for the person performing the oral sex whilst the other person is having an acute outbreak. In absence of symptoms, transmission is much less likely. If you perform oral sex, I do not believe there would be any risk of HSV2 infection for your partner; and in the case of you receiving oral sex by your partner, there would only be a risk if it is done whilst you are havign an outbreak as your partner might get it in his mouth. However the fact that you have never had any symptoms and you do have antibodies against HSV2, I think this would be highly unlikely.
Best wishes,
Dr José
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I believe that it is highly unlikely that you would be contagious if you are completely sure that you have never had a herpetic outbreak over those 15 years. There is a smal group of people denominated asymptomatic viral shedders; these are people who can be contagious without any symptoms, but most of them would have at least had one outbreak in the past. The vast majority of patients are contagious only during an outbreak. In any case, even if you were one of those individuals, you would not be contagious if you take suppressive therapy. However I am not sure if you really need to be on this medication. Doing serial blood tests to check for HSV2 serology and see if the antibody levels are rising might indicate active infection. For that you would need to be off the suppressive therapy obviously as it might affect the results. Also it might be worth having a urine PCR test to check if there is indeed presence of HSV2 in your genitals, even in absence of symptoms. If negative that woudl exclude the possibility of being one of those asymptomatic shedders.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Best wishes,
Dr José
Was with ex for 15 years. Got tested HSV2 + after that (2010). Only got on Suppressive Therapy very recently cause I was told I could be contagious even without symptoms.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The fact that you are on suppressive therapy might be the reason why you have not developed an outbreak in the first place. This medication is highly effective and almost straight away as soon as it is commenced.
The question here is to know when you might have been infected by your ex-husband (if you had been infected by him in the first place at all), how long you were with him and when you started the suppressive therapy. It is quite difficult to give you a clear answer because it is not certain if you have been infected in the first place as you have never had symptoms. In any case, in absence of symptoms and on suppressive therapy, you cannot be contagious!
Best,
Dr José
The question here is to know when you might have been infected by your ex-husband (if you had been infected by him in the first place at all), how long you were with him and when you started the suppressive therapy. It is quite difficult to give you a clear answer because it is not certain if you have been infected in the first place as you have never had symptoms. In any case, in absence of symptoms and on suppressive therapy, you cannot be contagious!
Best,
Dr José
Thank you for your valuable input. Do I even need to be on Suppressive Therapy, in your opinion? Do you have any idea how many days (before having an encounter) it takes for those therapies to be effective?
You are reading content posted in the STDs - International Forum
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.
