Aa
Protection ?
I just found out that a girl I really like is taking Valtrex for something that happened to her a long time ago. We haven't done anything other than kissing yet, but I would like to know what my risks are and how to prevent me from getting anything. I know I should wear a condom at all times Is unprotected oral sex a risk ? Are some practices riskier than others ? Any information is greatly appreciated.
COMMUNITY LEADER
You should also check out the herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com for more info.
Aj
Aj
Thanks for your input on this Aj. This is all new to me so any info I can get is greatly appreciated. I just want to gather as much info as I can and make as smart a decision as possible.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi there -
First, let me say congrats to you for wanting information, and not freaking out. :) That shows you are smart, and that you care about her.
Have you ever tested for herpes? You should - you could have either and not know it. Ask your doctor for a type specific IgG herpes blood test to find out.
I'm assuming she is taking it for genital herpes, only because she probably would have said something like "I take it for cold sores" or something if it wasn't genital. Now, that's an assumption, and you should ask her about it.
Assuming its genital, she needs to find out if she has genital herpes type 1 or type 2. Both will cause similar symptoms, but the transmission rates are different for each type. She can get a type specific IgG blood test and find out.
If she has type 2, and takes valtrex, the chances of you getting this, as long as you avoid sex when she has any symptoms at all, are about 2% a year. That's a 98% chance that you WOULDN'T get it. If you decided to use condoms as well, its a 99% chance per year that you wouldn't get it.
We don't have stats like that for genital type 1, but we do know that it is contagious a lot less of the time than type 2 is, so you can assume that there would be less of a chance of getting type 1 from her.
Oral is fine. Herpes doesn't seem to go from the genitals to the mouth nearly as easily as the other way around. I would still avoid oral sex when she has an outbreak, but other than that, you are fine.
A piece of unsolicited advice here - tread carefully when you talk to her. She mentioned "something that happened to her a long time ago", so I'm wondering if she was sexually abused or raped as a child. When you talk to her, tell her that you aren't freaking, that you just want to know as much as you can so you both can enjoy being intimate without worrying about any of this, and that you really really like her, and aren't judging her at all. :)
Oh and thank her for telling you. Its hard to tell people this, and it shows she is honest and cares about you, as well.
Good luck!
Aj
First, let me say congrats to you for wanting information, and not freaking out. :) That shows you are smart, and that you care about her.
Have you ever tested for herpes? You should - you could have either and not know it. Ask your doctor for a type specific IgG herpes blood test to find out.
I'm assuming she is taking it for genital herpes, only because she probably would have said something like "I take it for cold sores" or something if it wasn't genital. Now, that's an assumption, and you should ask her about it.
Assuming its genital, she needs to find out if she has genital herpes type 1 or type 2. Both will cause similar symptoms, but the transmission rates are different for each type. She can get a type specific IgG blood test and find out.
If she has type 2, and takes valtrex, the chances of you getting this, as long as you avoid sex when she has any symptoms at all, are about 2% a year. That's a 98% chance that you WOULDN'T get it. If you decided to use condoms as well, its a 99% chance per year that you wouldn't get it.
We don't have stats like that for genital type 1, but we do know that it is contagious a lot less of the time than type 2 is, so you can assume that there would be less of a chance of getting type 1 from her.
Oral is fine. Herpes doesn't seem to go from the genitals to the mouth nearly as easily as the other way around. I would still avoid oral sex when she has an outbreak, but other than that, you are fine.
A piece of unsolicited advice here - tread carefully when you talk to her. She mentioned "something that happened to her a long time ago", so I'm wondering if she was sexually abused or raped as a child. When you talk to her, tell her that you aren't freaking, that you just want to know as much as you can so you both can enjoy being intimate without worrying about any of this, and that you really really like her, and aren't judging her at all. :)
Oh and thank her for telling you. Its hard to tell people this, and it shows she is honest and cares about you, as well.
Good luck!
Aj
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the STDs / STIs 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.
