I don't always use condoms. I don't use them in long term relationships after a few months either.
I get about 1 ob a year while on suppressive therapy . sometimes more if I have a lot of vaginitis issues going on.
next time you have one of your bumps you are noticing, try to be seen within 48 hours of its appearance for a lesion culture but they really sound like pimples or even infected hairs or something.
grace
Thank you very much for responding. Do you always use protection too? I take mine faithfully every day and may start breaking the 1 gm in half and move to twice daily to keep it my system. Have you heard much from others on here about their luck with the anti-virals? How often do you have breakouts? I don't think I've had any "official breakouts" in the past few years. I do get some tingling every couple months. I have however noticed occassional small pimple-like single bumps that do not itch or tingle in pubic hair area or on my bottom. Do you know what the likelihood is of those being a minor breakout? Sometimes they get a white head on them.
You can read the whole valtrex and reduction in transmission study for free on the NEJM website ( jan 1, 2004 issue ). Just register there and you can read it.
Yes, 2/3's or so of the folks who transmitted the virus during the study were not remembering to take their medication at least 80% of days. Remembering to take it daily ups the odds of not transmitting to a partner even more.
I've never transmitted the virus to a partner since I"ve been on daily suppressive therapy. I use acyclovir most of the time - took valtrex for less than 1 year and stopped.
grace