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HSV2 Positive Girlfriend
My girlfiend and I went to a local STD Clinic for a STD screen
before moving our relationship to the "next level."
Everything was find except for Herpes I'm HSV1 Positive, HSV2
Negative--She's HSV1 and HSV2 Positive. The nurse at the Clinic
says she has gential herpes, but she claims to have never had
any symptoms.
If I have a sexual relationship with her will I get gential
herpes?
before moving our relationship to the "next level."
Everything was find except for Herpes I'm HSV1 Positive, HSV2
Negative--She's HSV1 and HSV2 Positive. The nurse at the Clinic
says she has gential herpes, but she claims to have never had
any symptoms.
If I have a sexual relationship with her will I get gential
herpes?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No research has ever studied whether taking an antiherpetic drug by the exposed person can prevent infection. It makes sense that it would work, but only if the drug is taken at least a couple of hours before sex. From research in animals, taking it any time after exposure--even if immediately after sex--probably is not protective. Therefore, main strategy should be the infected person taking the drug, not the exposed partner.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
If I also took Valtrex, would it reduce the changes of my
acquiring HSV2 from her?
Thanks for your help.
acquiring HSV2 from her?
Thanks for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, we can expect highly effective vaccines to prevent HPV to be available in a couple of years. One company's product (GlaxoSmithKline) is intended to protect only against HPV types 16 and 18, the most common (but not the only) types that cause cancer and pre-cancerous pap smear abnormalities. The Merck vaccine will offer protection against types 16 and 18, and also HPV types 6 and 11, the main causes of genital warts. Over future years, we can expect both companies to add further HPV types to their vaccines.
GlaxoSmithKline also is developing a vaccine against HSV-2. For a variety of reasons, there is less optimism than for the HPV vaccines. The current research trials will have to be completed--which will take at least a couple more years--to know whether it is effective enough to bring to the market. If so, it will take at least another 2 years for the vaccine to be approved by the FDA and be available for general use. Even then, preliminary data suggest the vaccine will be only partially effective. Other vaccines may come along someday, but even further in the future.
Bottom line: Lots of optimism about HPV vaccines in coming years, less certainty about HSV-2 vaccines and when they might be available.
HHH, MD
GlaxoSmithKline also is developing a vaccine against HSV-2. For a variety of reasons, there is less optimism than for the HPV vaccines. The current research trials will have to be completed--which will take at least a couple more years--to know whether it is effective enough to bring to the market. If so, it will take at least another 2 years for the vaccine to be approved by the FDA and be available for general use. Even then, preliminary data suggest the vaccine will be only partially effective. Other vaccines may come along someday, but even further in the future.
Bottom line: Lots of optimism about HPV vaccines in coming years, less certainty about HSV-2 vaccines and when they might be available.
HHH, MD
Doctor I read about vaccines being released by Merck in the fourth quarter of this year for prevention of high strain HPV and by Stressgen for people who already have HPV6/11, but what about a Herpes vaccine? Do you see this anytime on the horizon (when I say Herpes vaccine I mean for people who DON'T have the virus yet, not a cure for people who already do).
OK great thanks for the info, the Stressgen website claims that their vaccine will actually eliminate the virus with those already infected with HPV 6 and 11, is that true? I also found some of the things they said on their site to be a little erroneous perhaps, they say the elimination of genital warts "is rarely permanent", then they go on talking about "surgery under general anesthesia" for warts, I can understand aggressive marketing, but scaring people into buying their product???
By positive--I mean Seropositive (Herpes type specific blood
test)
test)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Assuming the STD clinic did the right kind of herpes blood test, the clinician is right: your partner has genital HSV-2 infection. Most people with genital herpes don
You are reading content posted in the STDs 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.
