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Herpes2
Hi. I was wondering, I had 1 small blister maybe the size of a pinky finger nail about 7 years ago on my genital. Then nothing at all since. I have however had the rash on my elbow and knee and that happens every few months. I was wondering, how contagious would I be down there? What is the likely hood my partner will get it ? He doesnt care and doesnt want a test but I just wanted to know.
Best Answer
the size of the lesions has nothing to do with shedding.
folks shed about the same amount whether they have 0 ob's a year or 10 ob's a year.
folks shed about the same amount whether they have 0 ob's a year or 10 ob's a year.
Hi Grace,
I have another question regarding shedding...if you only had 1 tiny blister size of pink finger nail once... several years ago... are you less likely to shed without symptoms that someone who has had a larger outbreak ?..
I have another question regarding shedding...if you only had 1 tiny blister size of pink finger nail once... several years ago... are you less likely to shed without symptoms that someone who has had a larger outbreak ?..
Should I get 200mg 400mg or 800mg acyclovir? I want the best results so assume 800mg ?
you shed about the same whether you've had hsv2 for 2 years or 20 years. You do shed more the first year you are infected. On average you shed 15% of days.
OLE really isn't all that helpful for herpes. in the test tube it worked, in real people, no real effectiveness. it's one of those supplements that traditionally is used for its antiviral activity which is why it's sometimes mentioned for herpes even though the research doesn't back up its use.
no, valtrex doesn't cause hair loss. it's a generic now so the price depends on your insurance.
if you don't have insurance or your insurance doesn't make valtrex affordable for your budget, look into generic acyclovir. Even without insurance you can get that for under $20/month for suppressive therapy with a prescription.
OLE really isn't all that helpful for herpes. in the test tube it worked, in real people, no real effectiveness. it's one of those supplements that traditionally is used for its antiviral activity which is why it's sometimes mentioned for herpes even though the research doesn't back up its use.
no, valtrex doesn't cause hair loss. it's a generic now so the price depends on your insurance.
if you don't have insurance or your insurance doesn't make valtrex affordable for your budget, look into generic acyclovir. Even without insurance you can get that for under $20/month for suppressive therapy with a prescription.
Yes I read the handbook. I didnt know anything about viral shedding. A couple of my friends didnt either.... wow. I told him I wanted him to get tested so will have that talk tonight. I read the handbook. But I also read somewhere that viral shedding is only 2% chance? and that the longer you have had it dormant in your system the less shedding too? Last night the rash came up on my arm too. I started taking Olive Leaf the other week... is that supressive enough? Valtrex is so expensive and I heard it causes hair loss???
she said it might be herpes. Then she swabbed. I went back in and got the results and she said hsv2.
I asked him if he wanted a test and he just said no its just me and you. we are engaged now anyway.
I asked him if he wanted a test and he just said no its just me and you. we are engaged now anyway.
do you know was your lesion culture typed as hsv2 or just they told you it was hsv2 and swabbed it but you never heard back to see if indeed it was hsv2?
your partner should be tested to see what their status is.
grace
your partner should be tested to see what their status is.
grace
Grace...
No I did. She swabbed the blister genitally and she said it was HSV2. This was.. hrmm...7 years ago? 0 re-occurances. No tingliny or itching or anything that I have noticed. Never passed anything on (that i know of)
I have friends that have type 1 genitally and get it all the time. They told me you cant pass it on if you dont have an outbreak... I have since learnt otherwise from reading about it more!!!!!!!
my partner has never had it after years. Unless he just hasnt said anything.
I think Id die if I knew I gave it to someone.. :(
No I did. She swabbed the blister genitally and she said it was HSV2. This was.. hrmm...7 years ago? 0 re-occurances. No tingliny or itching or anything that I have noticed. Never passed anything on (that i know of)
I have friends that have type 1 genitally and get it all the time. They told me you cant pass it on if you dont have an outbreak... I have since learnt otherwise from reading about it more!!!!!!!
my partner has never had it after years. Unless he just hasnt said anything.
I think Id die if I knew I gave it to someone.. :(
The skin on the elbow is thick so unless you have your rash present, you aren't contagious from there.
unfortunately unless you get a return of genital symptoms to get cultured, no easy way to determine if you also have hsv2 genitally too. you never had your original genital symptoms cultured correct?
unfortunately unless you get a return of genital symptoms to get cultured, no easy way to determine if you also have hsv2 genitally too. you never had your original genital symptoms cultured correct?
hey there. i have hsv2 and had one initial outbreak 3 years ago and nothing since then. I have had cold sores my entire life which is hsv1, but if i were you i would not worry about it. the literature says you can have shedding and contract it, but its sooo highly unlikely. me and my ex had sex all the time even after we found out i had it and she is clean. we dont date anymore but for atleast a year we had sex regularly un protected and nothing. If you feel any kind of tingle or just something does not feel right down there dont have sex for a week or until it goes away. even during an outbreak unless you have open sores, its not as contagious and gross as the stigma says. if your boyfriend is ok with it dont worry at all.. hsv is soooo not what the stigma says it is..
I had the rash for maybe... 6 years and had no idea what it was. I had 3 doctors tell me it was just eczma, and "just one of those skin things people can get... you cant get herpes there". Then finally about the 4th doctor swabbed it and said it was HSV2 !!! I asked if it was contagious to spread from there and she basically said I dont know, maybe not because its in a dry area but be careful. I never had any explanations given and was too scared to find out about it and now I have only recently heard about viral shedding and feel terrible! My boyfriend has never contracted anything I dont think. Or at least doesnt show any symptoms. Luckily he doesnt even care.
I encourage you and your partner to read the herpes handbook. google it and it comes right up. it's free to read online.
was your elbow cultured as hsv2 or your genital rash years ago?
grace
was your elbow cultured as hsv2 or your genital rash years ago?
grace
The thing I ammost interested to know is my chances and percentages of viral shedding and transmitting that way ? Because it seems so weird to never have anything ever again yet I can pass it on .
Yes hsv 2 is what she said. By looking at it she wasn't sure then swab came back positive . She said it was very small and different and I'd likley never get it again ? I remember having flu symptoms and at first .mild though
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes 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.
even though you don't think you are having genital recurrences, you are still shedding the virus and can transmit it to a partner. did you get a chance to read the handbook yet? Getting a baseline herpes igg blood test on your partner is also helpful so you know if you need to be worried about reducing transmission to him or not too. Perhaps let him know how important it is to you to know his status so he'll get tested?
I also suggest going on daily suppressive therapy with one of the 3 herpes antivirals. You are having the recurrences on non-genital body parts regularly so why go through that any more than you have to? Suppressive therapy would keep those recurrences few and far between as well as help to reduce the risk of transmission to your partner when you have sex.