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Important Life Decision
Hello Dr. Handsfield,
I met a very nice guy who told me he was hsv2 positive (for 12 years now with 1 or 2 outbreaks per year). He also takes L-Lysine and Valtrex when needed. I appreciate how sincere he was to tell me, before we got involved sexually. I feel that we have so much in common and could be together as a couple. I got tested for both hsv1 and hsv2. The results were: hsv1 positive and hsv2 negative. I have never had any symptoms and was tested after he told me he was positive to see what my actual status is. Since I have hsv1 antibodies in my blood, wouldn't I already have some immunity toward hsv2?
I would like to have a child. My concern is, since we are hsv2 discordant couple... What is my chance of not getting hsv2 while trying to get pregnant? What would be your advice in this case? Also, if we are using condoms and he takes Lysine pill daily wouldn't that decrease a chance of getting hsv2?
It is a life decision to make. Please advice what to do in this situation. I would not like to have any regrets in my life later. I would like to make a wise decision.
Thank you for taking time to respond.
ILD
I met a very nice guy who told me he was hsv2 positive (for 12 years now with 1 or 2 outbreaks per year). He also takes L-Lysine and Valtrex when needed. I appreciate how sincere he was to tell me, before we got involved sexually. I feel that we have so much in common and could be together as a couple. I got tested for both hsv1 and hsv2. The results were: hsv1 positive and hsv2 negative. I have never had any symptoms and was tested after he told me he was positive to see what my actual status is. Since I have hsv1 antibodies in my blood, wouldn't I already have some immunity toward hsv2?
I would like to have a child. My concern is, since we are hsv2 discordant couple... What is my chance of not getting hsv2 while trying to get pregnant? What would be your advice in this case? Also, if we are using condoms and he takes Lysine pill daily wouldn't that decrease a chance of getting hsv2?
It is a life decision to make. Please advice what to do in this situation. I would not like to have any regrets in my life later. I would like to make a wise decision.
Thank you for taking time to respond.
ILD
lysine has little effect on genital herpes. no reason for him to be supplementing with it - he's already getting more than enough of it in his diet.
If you two did nothing but avoid sex anytime he has anything going on genitally, you are 90-92% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from him. If you use condoms and he takes daily suppressive therapy with valtrex, you are 97-98% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from him. To give you something to compare the risk to, the odds of becoming pregnant while just using the birth control pill for pregnancy prevention are 92% likely each year not to become pregnant.
When it comes to time to start a family together, you should retest for hsv2 to see what your status is. Your hsv1 infection won't provide any significant protection against contracting his hsv2 but it does make it more likely should you contract hsv2 from him, your symptoms would be more mild. We recommend yearly testing in discordant couples just to keep an eye on things as well as at the start of pregnancy as well as at the start of the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. should you still be hsv2 negative when you are reading to start trying to have a family, he can stop using condoms and just continue taking his daily suppressive therapy. That will keep your risk at 94-95% each year of not contracting his hsv2 while trying to conceive. Once you confirm your pregnancy, consider adding condoms back into your sex life just to protect you more from hsv2. Once you get to your 3rd trimester, stop back and we'll gladly help guide you through the last trimester :)
keep asking questions!
grace
If you two did nothing but avoid sex anytime he has anything going on genitally, you are 90-92% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from him. If you use condoms and he takes daily suppressive therapy with valtrex, you are 97-98% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from him. To give you something to compare the risk to, the odds of becoming pregnant while just using the birth control pill for pregnancy prevention are 92% likely each year not to become pregnant.
When it comes to time to start a family together, you should retest for hsv2 to see what your status is. Your hsv1 infection won't provide any significant protection against contracting his hsv2 but it does make it more likely should you contract hsv2 from him, your symptoms would be more mild. We recommend yearly testing in discordant couples just to keep an eye on things as well as at the start of pregnancy as well as at the start of the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. should you still be hsv2 negative when you are reading to start trying to have a family, he can stop using condoms and just continue taking his daily suppressive therapy. That will keep your risk at 94-95% each year of not contracting his hsv2 while trying to conceive. Once you confirm your pregnancy, consider adding condoms back into your sex life just to protect you more from hsv2. Once you get to your 3rd trimester, stop back and we'll gladly help guide you through the last trimester :)
keep asking questions!
grace
Thank you for your response! I really appreciate it. I have been thinking so much about this that my head hurts and finally I decided to get someone else's opinion. I hope more people make comments like you did to help.
Have a nice day!
Have a nice day!
Hello dear. My husband and I have been together for about 2 years. I have HSV2 and have for about 3-4 years now. We have had both protected sex and unprotected sex. We are having a baby. And he has NOT contracted HSV2. For about a year, I was taking daily medications to help keep my outbreaks to a minimum. As long as he can tell- which I'm sure if he has had it for so long he can tell- when he is in the beginning stages of an outbreak, then u two can wait until about a week after he is healed to have sex. If it helps ease ur mind more, I do have a friend who has HSV2. she and her husband have been together for over 10 years, they have 4 beautiful children, and her husband had never contracted the virus. I do give ur friend big kudos for being honest and up front with u....
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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.
