Partner With HSV2

[greglondon]

Hi Doc,

I am a male that has recently began a relationship with a woman that has genital herpes HSV 2. We have been dating for a little while, and we are thinking about starting a sexual relationship. I already know to where condoms and avoid having sex during one of her outbreaks, but I still have a question that I would like you to clear up.

1. I shave my pubic region, is it safe for me to have sex with her if I nick myself shaving on my penis or other genital areas? If not, how long should I wait?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This will be my last answer to your question.  Cuts start to heal in minutes and as they do risk for infection diminishes as well. EWH

[greglondon]

So when you say it begins to heal almost immediately, how long does it take for the cut to close so no std's or HSV 2 can get in?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are overthinking this, or perhaps being a bit paranoid.  When a person sustains a cut, it begins to heal almost immediately.  On the other hand, when a sore occurs DURING sex, the micro organism that is going to cause infection is directly introduced. EWH

[greglondon]

I realize that shaving with this partner may not be the smartest idea, I probaly will only just trim with scissors.

You said that shaving shouldn't  increase my risk of contacting HSV, do you mean even if I have nick that bled for a short time?

Would a cut from shaving on the shaft of the penis (that stops bleeding) also be relativley unsusceptible to HSV transmission? Being that the skin of the penis is the most common place for STD transmission

For future partners, are small cuts on the genitals that stop bleeding unlikely to be susceptible to other STD's too?

If these razor cuts are not likely to transmiss HSV and other std's, could you explain why these cuts would not be susceptible because I have read numeorus information on what I believe to be credible websites,  that says std's transmiss through small breaks in the skin on genitals? Thanks, I would like to not be confused anymore.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Even before we discuss the HSV, let me mention that shaving your pubic hair is something we don't recommend.  It increases your chances of folliculitis due to the shaving itself which in turn can lead to other, more complicated skin infections.   Of course this is up to you but thought I'd mention it for what it's worth.

Shaving should not modify your risk for getting HSV from your partner.  You have done two of the important steps we recommend for preventing HSV transmission- informing one's sex partner and avoiding sex during outbreaks.  The other two recommendations are condoms and for her to take chronic suppressive therapy with and antiviral medication like valacyclovir.  The suppressive therapy has been shown to reduce outbreak frequency, asymptomatic shedding or the virus and transmission to sex partners.  You might wish to discuss this. The other thing we would recommend is that you have a type specific blood test for HSV-2 as you might find that you have it but did not know wit which would make your risk for getting HSV close to zero.

I realize I just mentioned more than you asked.  Hope the comments help.  EWH