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Still contagious after 25 years?
You've probably answered this question many times already, but since I haven't been terribly successful searching for it here, I'll ask anyway.
I contracted HSV II about 25 years ago. A few years later, I married and was with my husband for many years. He never contracted the virus as far as we know. However, I am divorced now and have been seeing someone new for a short time. We haven't gotten sexual yet but soon will, and I am getting up my courage to tell him about HSV II beforehand.
My questions:
(1) I know the virus doesn't go away, but is there any evidence that it weakens at all over the course of 25 years?
(2) I have seen conflicting data on how effective Valtrex is in preventing transmission. If I take it every day (which I have been doing for about a year) and do not have any symptoms of outbreaks, how likely is it that the virus could be transmitted asymptomatically, both with and without the use of condoms in addition to the Valtrex? Do you have a link for the most recent study on this? I think the U of Washington conducted a good study on this within the past few years, but I can't find the data online right now.
Thanks for your good work.
I contracted HSV II about 25 years ago. A few years later, I married and was with my husband for many years. He never contracted the virus as far as we know. However, I am divorced now and have been seeing someone new for a short time. We haven't gotten sexual yet but soon will, and I am getting up my courage to tell him about HSV II beforehand.
My questions:
(1) I know the virus doesn't go away, but is there any evidence that it weakens at all over the course of 25 years?
(2) I have seen conflicting data on how effective Valtrex is in preventing transmission. If I take it every day (which I have been doing for about a year) and do not have any symptoms of outbreaks, how likely is it that the virus could be transmitted asymptomatically, both with and without the use of condoms in addition to the Valtrex? Do you have a link for the most recent study on this? I think the U of Washington conducted a good study on this within the past few years, but I can't find the data online right now.
Thanks for your good work.
no it doesn't weaken the longer you are infected unfortunately. after about the first year of being infected, the virus still sheds about the same amount. we have a shedding study on folks infected for greater than 10 years which backs this.
even though you are no longer with your ex, hopefully he followed up with type specific herpes igg blood testing to know his own status before having other partners. did you cover your full std testing bases too?
if you are female and hsv2+ and have a hsv2 negative male partner, avoid sex any time you have anything genitally going on, use condoms and daily suppressive therapy with valtrex, your partner on average is 99% likely each year not to contract hsv2 from you.
grace
even though you are no longer with your ex, hopefully he followed up with type specific herpes igg blood testing to know his own status before having other partners. did you cover your full std testing bases too?
if you are female and hsv2+ and have a hsv2 negative male partner, avoid sex any time you have anything genitally going on, use condoms and daily suppressive therapy with valtrex, your partner on average is 99% likely each year not to contract hsv2 from you.
grace
Even if you haven't had a problem in years you can still pass this to your partner , always use protection and if you have an issue do not have sex at all. Valtrex does not prevent transmission, it helps you from having issues as often.
valtrex reduces viral shedding significantly so that it's less like that you'd be actively shedding virus when you have sex with your partner in between obvious recurrences. It cuts the risk of transmission by half!
grace
grace
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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.
