Aa
I am diagnosed hsv 2 can I have unprotected sex
Hi I was diagnosed hsv 2 I take the medication as prescribed and have no outbreaks can I have unprotected sex and not pass on the virus?
Thanks
Thanks
Suppressive (daily) antiviral medication only reduces the risk of transmission by about half (50% or so). We can still pass on the virus, even without symptoms - a phenomenon called "asymptomatic shedding" - we can be contagious at any time. Adding a condom/barrier with every sexual contact reduces the risk further, to negligible levels. However, the risk, even with these steps, is still never zero. Therefore it's important to take two additional steps: abstain from sex during any symptoms, including prodrome (signals that the virus is active, which can include itching, tingling, burning, nerve pain, flu- and cold-like symptoms, and in some cases, headache and nausea); and most importantly, disclose before every sexual contact. I cannot stress this last directive enough.
Have an Answer?
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.
