Aa
Would Like to Sleep with Partner, She Has HSV, Advice?
Hello all.
I'm likely going to be involved with a woman who is HSV positive. She takes Valtrex.
We both have feelings for one another, but I'm concerned about the risk of contracting the disease. Of course all sex would be protected using latex condom, under all circumstances. We will likely only be together for a period of weeks, how much of a risk am I taking?
Thanks for any advice, I'm a little concerned =/
I'm likely going to be involved with a woman who is HSV positive. She takes Valtrex.
We both have feelings for one another, but I'm concerned about the risk of contracting the disease. Of course all sex would be protected using latex condom, under all circumstances. We will likely only be together for a period of weeks, how much of a risk am I taking?
Thanks for any advice, I'm a little concerned =/
that number comes from the valtrex and reduction in transmission study done and published in the NEJM a few years back ( know it was the jan 1 issue but can't recall the date at this point ). It's the same stat quoted in the free herpes handbook by Terri Warren, our herpes expert here on medhelp too.
your partner is more likely to get pregnant while only using the birth control pill for contraception ( 8% risk/year ) than you are to contract her hsv2 if you need something to compare it to.
keep asking questions :)
your partner is more likely to get pregnant while only using the birth control pill for contraception ( 8% risk/year ) than you are to contract her hsv2 if you need something to compare it to.
keep asking questions :)
Hi Grace, thanks for responding!
She has been tested, and is confirmed positive HSV2, I have been tested and am negative for all forms of 1 and 2.
"you are 99% likely not to contract hsv2 from her if you had sex with her for an entire year"
Ok, this is like exactly the kind of statistic I'm looking for. Where is that number from? I'd like to know more about actual numbers of infections by time or by encounters, something like that.
When we've discussed it, we're both pretty clear about being safe. If either one of us could somehow confirm that the chances are like 1/100, that would ease a huge burden =)
She has been tested, and is confirmed positive HSV2, I have been tested and am negative for all forms of 1 and 2.
"you are 99% likely not to contract hsv2 from her if you had sex with her for an entire year"
Ok, this is like exactly the kind of statistic I'm looking for. Where is that number from? I'd like to know more about actual numbers of infections by time or by encounters, something like that.
When we've discussed it, we're both pretty clear about being safe. If either one of us could somehow confirm that the chances are like 1/100, that would ease a huge burden =)
have you ever been tested to know your own herpes status? It's not a part of routine std testing and you might never have been tested for it before.
does your potential partner have hsv1 or hsv2 genitally?
Unfortunately no one takes the time to educate us about oral or genital herpes :( Most folks just assume it's "awful" and run away scared when we hear someone say they have it. Reality is, 1 out of every 4-5 adults in the US has hsv2 and 1 out of every 2-3 has hsv1. they are both incredibly common!
If your partner has hsv2, takes daily suppressive therapy and you use condoms, you are 99% likely not to contract hsv2 from her if you had sex with her for an entire year. Why would you run away from the chance to get to know someone intimately for such low risk? You are actually far safer with someone who knows that they are infected than you are with someone who has it and doesn't know. Since over 90% of folks who have hsv2 have no idea they are infected - odds are this isn't the first partner you've ever had who has hsv2. Regardless of your decision, be sure to thank your partner for her honesty - it's something in short supply in general.
grace
does your potential partner have hsv1 or hsv2 genitally?
Unfortunately no one takes the time to educate us about oral or genital herpes :( Most folks just assume it's "awful" and run away scared when we hear someone say they have it. Reality is, 1 out of every 4-5 adults in the US has hsv2 and 1 out of every 2-3 has hsv1. they are both incredibly common!
If your partner has hsv2, takes daily suppressive therapy and you use condoms, you are 99% likely not to contract hsv2 from her if you had sex with her for an entire year. Why would you run away from the chance to get to know someone intimately for such low risk? You are actually far safer with someone who knows that they are infected than you are with someone who has it and doesn't know. Since over 90% of folks who have hsv2 have no idea they are infected - odds are this isn't the first partner you've ever had who has hsv2. Regardless of your decision, be sure to thank your partner for her honesty - it's something in short supply in general.
grace
I'm not sure about how much time we'll be together, but we'll likely only be together for a few weeks before I get reassigned, and it could be months before I come back.
Anyway, I think you're post is pretty helpful - one shouldn't engage sexually with an infected partner unless one is willing to contract the disease.
Anyway, I think you're post is pretty helpful - one shouldn't engage sexually with an infected partner unless one is willing to contract the disease.
Do you mean you will only be together for a matter of weeks ever? If so, why would you take this risk if this has no potential of being a long term partner? I believe you have to be ok with contracting the virus in order to proceed. Nothing guarantees you will not be infected. Not condoms, not meds.
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.
