transmission statistics during an outbreak

[fanta1]

Thank you for developing this forum.  I have looked over past posts and there seem to be a wealth of information available.  

I am a female who has been HSVII positive for 5 years.  I am on immunosuppressants for rheumatoid arthritis treatment and thus i've been on suppressive acyclovir since my first outbreak.  I have a new partner (well, first partner since i was diagnosed).  I've had the discussion with him and we understand the risks associated when preventative measures are taken - not having sex during an outbreak, condom use, anti-viral treatment for suppression.  We had our first sexual encounter 2 days ago.  We didn't use a condom (shakes head at the irresponsibility of self) and I didn't realize that the friction associated with intercourse was a personal outbreak trigger - it being my first partner and all.  To spare details and to use a phrase from another person who posted.  We went at it like bunnies - and by the time we finished, (maybe an hour after - when i went to the toilet) i noticed i had a well developed outbreak.  I didn't have any symptoms or prodromal feelings before we initiated, and i suspect that it developed into an outbreak the last hour (as i said - bunnies).  I've read all the statistics regarding avoiding contact during an outbreak.  I can't seem to find the actual studies or statistics that indicate transmission risk when there is contact during an outbreak.  Does it jump to 99% risk of transmission?  Any information or guidance to a study would be well-appreciated.  Thank you.

[fanta1]

Thank you very much for your reassurance grace, petal and waring.  I'll have a chat with my partner and ask him to get tested as well. You all are absolutely fantastic! :)

[gracefromHHP]

You aren't going to trigger a herpes ob that soon because of sex - it would appear a day or two later at the earliest. For most folks sex isn't a trigger though "trauma" from not enough lube during a prolonged session can do a number on us gals. Your suppressive therapy you are on even keeps that from being much of an issue too.  

Your partner definitely needs testing to see what his status is for herpes and other std's.  You can't make educated decisions about what precautions to take until you both know who has what.

grace

[fanta1]

I should probably clarify - when i was first diagnosed 5 years ago, there was a swab test.  I honestly have no idea which specific test was performed, i had constant outbreaks for a couple of months and the doctor felt i'd be a good candidate for the anti-viral suppressive therapy.  At the time, i underwent the gamut of std testing.  i had one partner since then but we never had intercourse.  I've read a few places that prolonged intercourse can trigger a recurring outbreak due to friction, although the reason i had gone into see the practitioner 2 days ago was because i wasn't sure if an outbreak could be triggered so quickly (within a couple of hours) and i wanted to give my partner accurate information, as he was asking about the chances i'd infected him.  He hasn't had full screening.

I do appreciate the reassurance and advice.  As i said, if he decides this is something he can handle now that he knows what the waiting and anxiety truly feels like - i'll look into lube and we'll be using condoms.  The lube thing might be just be a moot point now.

[waringblender]

The friction associated with screwing isn't a trigger for outbreaks.

This doesn't sound like herpes.

If you are going to bang somebody that long, though, you really might want to consider using condoms because of the excessive friction since that is how herpes is passed.

But take the advice here and start using lube. Have both of you been tested for all STDs? That would be the biggest concern here since you aren't using condoms.

[petal130]

A visual diagnosis is not necessarily accurate. Only testing can determine if you have herpes. I would highly suggest confirming the visual diagnosis with an IgG type specific blood test.

[fanta1]

No, she said there was no need to.  She looked at me for a minute, asked if where she touched hurt and said there was no need to swab.

[gracefromHHP]

A visual diagnosis of it being an ob isn't all that accurate. Did they also culture it?

grace

[fanta1]

Thanks for making me laugh, grace.  What you do here is good for people.  I will look into lubes if he decides he can handle this.  

[fanta1]

Thanks for your reply, petal.  I've seen you post quite a bit on the forums and the reassurance you offer people is very nice.  

I wasn't completely sure it was an outbreak versus irritation to the skin due to not being used to sex.  I visited my practitioner who confirmed it was an outbreak, and although i asked, she didn't offer much in the way of statistics for transmission to my partner other than to just say, wait and see as there isn't anything that can be done at this point.  

She did mention that hours make a difference when dealing with outbreaks and did confirm my thoughts as to the possibility of intercourse triggering an outbreak a few hours later.  

I really can't say for certain whether the outbreak was actually occuring when we were still being intimate or shortly thereafter or even if it makes a difference as the virus was obviously in an active state at the time.  

I am just trying to do as much research as i can, so i can give my partner accurate information.  i don't want to upset him unnecessarily, but i want to be truthful and we both do better with statistics and numbers.  I've taken the time to look through medical journals and search for peer-reviewed articles but it's a lot of information to wade through and i have yet to come across anything that doesn't just vaguely say the chance of transmission is significantly increased.  I know the research and the worry can't change whether or not he's contracted the virus from me, but i suppose it fills the time while we play the waiting game.  

Despite my trying to take it into perspective, it's very worrisome for me.  One of the reasons i haven't had sex in so long has been an effort to protect people i care about.  The other reason is that sometimes i have the talk with the people i care about and they are no longer interested.  Which is valid.  I worry that this man, as understanding as he has been towards me, realizes now how awful the wait is and will call it quits whether he's been infected or not.  And on my end, this is the hardest part about having it - the worry that i could have hurt someone i most want to protect, just by being close to them.  I know from my experience, that it's a condition that physically is easy to handle, but it's not easy to accept and i wouldn't wish this experience on anyone.    

[gracefromHHP]

noticing symptoms that quickly means it probably was a lube issue and not a herpes lissue.  I'd abstain from sex until it's all healed. While waiting, go shopping and buy a good lube to use ( some of the online ones last longer than the ones you buy in the stores and stay away from the "heated" lubes and the him and hers types ).  It's unrealistic to think that you can go at it for a hour and not get sore dear - if you hadn't been to the gym for a few years and then went and worked out vigorously for a hour you know you'd be a hurting puppy right? Same thing goes with wild sex for a hour :)

grace

[petal130]

I believe my last outbreak was triggered by intercourse (not enough lube)  - however, the chances of it appearing immediately after are very slim. Mine didn't happen until about 2 days later. I would guess that if for even 5 minutes you didn't have enough lubrication, and you were "going at it like bunnies", that would be more than enough time to cause some major irritation or damage to the labial skin.

grace perhaps can chime in here as well - I'm not sure of the stats if in fact you were having an outbreak.