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Genital Herpes and HIV transmission
Thanks in advance...
Scenario:
Me: Infected with genital herpes (HSV2)
Female: Infected with HIV
If we have protected (condom) intercourse…
Questions:
From what I understand, people infected with genital herpes (HSV2) are more likely to acquire HIV than those who do not have genital herpes. True/False?
If you are exposed to HIV during sexual contact and have genital sores, HIV can find easy entry into your body; because during an outbreak of genital herpes, CD4 cells (which fight against the herpes infection) are found at the base of the herpes lesion. These cells are the main cells attacked by HIV. True/False?
If you are HSV2 infected and asymptomatic during intercourse, YOU WILL be infected with HIV even while using protection/condoms if she is HIV positive. True/False?
Because you have HSV2, condoms offer virtually NO (zero) protection against HIV? True/False?
Scenario:
Me: Infected with genital herpes (HSV2)
Female: Infected with HIV
If we have protected (condom) intercourse…
Questions:
From what I understand, people infected with genital herpes (HSV2) are more likely to acquire HIV than those who do not have genital herpes. True/False?
If you are exposed to HIV during sexual contact and have genital sores, HIV can find easy entry into your body; because during an outbreak of genital herpes, CD4 cells (which fight against the herpes infection) are found at the base of the herpes lesion. These cells are the main cells attacked by HIV. True/False?
If you are HSV2 infected and asymptomatic during intercourse, YOU WILL be infected with HIV even while using protection/condoms if she is HIV positive. True/False?
Because you have HSV2, condoms offer virtually NO (zero) protection against HIV? True/False?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
Do you actually have a female partner with HIV? You didn't mention that on the herpes community forum or when you asked about this on the STD international forum. If you are the regular partner of an HIV infected person, then it is critical that you and your partner discuss prevention in detail, and in person, with the doctor or clinic who provides her HIV care. Although HSV-2 makes a difference in HIV susceptibility, it is not as important as other things in judging your risk, like your partner's HIV viral load (the amount of HIV in her blood), whether she is taking anti-HIV drugs, and consistent condom use for vaginal or anal sex.
My guess is that you're actually asking a hypothetical question. If so, and if you are in the US or other industrialized country, you really shouldn't be very concerned about HSV-2 increasing your risk of HIV. This came up on another question just a week ago, in which I explained why this is the case. Take a look: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1137074
To your specific questions, some of which duplicate the ones you asked on the other forums. As you will see, I agree with the other experts who responded:
1) True. Having HSV-2 roughly doubles the risk, if exposed. But first you have to be exposed.
2) True. But an overt herpes sore need not be present. Even if entirely asymptomatic, people with HSV-2 have an increased risk of HIV, probably because of microscopic lesions that cause no symptoms.
3) False. Even WITHOUT a condom, if a woman has HIV, the average transmission risk is around once for every 1,000-2,000 episodes of vaginal sex. With HSV-2, that risk roughly doubles, i.e. about 1 transmission for every 500-1,000 vaginal sex episodes.
4) False. It's so false it's just plain wacko. Where did you hear anything like that? With or without HSV-2, a properly used condom that does not break reduces the HIV transmission risk by nearly 100%.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Do you actually have a female partner with HIV? You didn't mention that on the herpes community forum or when you asked about this on the STD international forum. If you are the regular partner of an HIV infected person, then it is critical that you and your partner discuss prevention in detail, and in person, with the doctor or clinic who provides her HIV care. Although HSV-2 makes a difference in HIV susceptibility, it is not as important as other things in judging your risk, like your partner's HIV viral load (the amount of HIV in her blood), whether she is taking anti-HIV drugs, and consistent condom use for vaginal or anal sex.
My guess is that you're actually asking a hypothetical question. If so, and if you are in the US or other industrialized country, you really shouldn't be very concerned about HSV-2 increasing your risk of HIV. This came up on another question just a week ago, in which I explained why this is the case. Take a look: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1137074
To your specific questions, some of which duplicate the ones you asked on the other forums. As you will see, I agree with the other experts who responded:
1) True. Having HSV-2 roughly doubles the risk, if exposed. But first you have to be exposed.
2) True. But an overt herpes sore need not be present. Even if entirely asymptomatic, people with HSV-2 have an increased risk of HIV, probably because of microscopic lesions that cause no symptoms.
3) False. Even WITHOUT a condom, if a woman has HIV, the average transmission risk is around once for every 1,000-2,000 episodes of vaginal sex. With HSV-2, that risk roughly doubles, i.e. about 1 transmission for every 500-1,000 vaginal sex episodes.
4) False. It's so false it's just plain wacko. Where did you hear anything like that? With or without HSV-2, a properly used condom that does not break reduces the HIV transmission risk by nearly 100%.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
IF the woman has HIV, maybe around 1 chance in several thousand of catching HIV.
A related discussion, why two views?? was started.
thanks again...
1 question:
with these variables constant:
1) being exposed
2) asymptomatic (microscopic lesions that cause no symptoms.)
3) you are exposed... (yes, less than a 1% chance)
# 4 rephrased: because a condom is a barrier between the penis and "X". if outbreaks occur where a condom does not cover, the chances are similar to that of not using a condom?
1 question:
with these variables constant:
1) being exposed
2) asymptomatic (microscopic lesions that cause no symptoms.)
3) you are exposed... (yes, less than a 1% chance)
# 4 rephrased: because a condom is a barrier between the penis and "X". if outbreaks occur where a condom does not cover, the chances are similar to that of not using a condom?
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