Shedding before an outbreak

[Markus86]

Hello all just a question about something I experienced.

I had sex with my girlfriend unprotected who is aware I am hsv2+ And fine with it. At around 7am on the Monday , I ended up being very sick later that day and was signed off work for a few days . Around 36 hours after sex I started having outbreak symptoms but no blisters (pains in the groin) , very little sleep and no appetite so I was very run down. A few hours later two small blisters appeared.

My questions are

1) Could the sex and then being sick and run down have caused the outbreak ?

2) is it likely that I was shedding at the time we had sex even though I had no symptoms at all till the following day and am taking suppressive treatment daily ?

3)What is the incubation period for herpes , would my girlfriend have known quickly if she had contracted it ?

Thanks in advance

[Life360_Dave]

Hi
1. possible.
2. possible
3.very often there are no symptoms but if they do would be from 3 to 13 days average.

[catinbarefeet]

1) Yes, we have many anecdotes of sex/orgasm/hormones triggering outbreaks. And certainly if your immune system is fighting something else, it doesn't always have enough juice to fight HSV.

2) Suppressive therapy only cuts the shedding rate AND the risk of transmission about 50%. Genital HSV-2 sheds about 20% of days asymptomatically, so on suppressive therapy, it can still shed about 10% of days. Use a condom during every sexual contact to add more protection.

3) Per Terri Warren, up to 90% of people who have HSV are unaware of it, due to a lack of recognizable symptoms. She should get tested at regular intervals. I'll say that it's good she's aware of your status and accepts the risks, however. Good luck to you both.