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Nervous about HSV - 2 Exposure
Hi Doctors,
I am an hsv1 positive male and I recently found that my ex girlfriend/old flame recently tested positive for hsv2 on 12/12/2012. I found out on Christmas day! She told me went to get tested the week of 11/28/2012. Me and her had protected vaginal sex in August and September twice. No sex in October. Unprotected oral sex (I was receiver) on November 4th. No sex in December. I read threads of this website all of the time, but I couldn't find a thread that was similar to my situation. I know that hsv1 provides partial immunity to hsv2. I've been tested for hsv2 via blood on December 28, due to my anxiety taking the best of me. Me and my current girlfriend has had protected and unprotected vaginal sex unbeknownst that I may have been possibly exposed to hsv2. I would like to move on with my life with my new girlfriend who is totally aware that I have hsv1.
My questions are as follows:
1. Should I have even tested based on the low risks, provided that I used a condom?
2. Does my hsv1 provide additional protection?
3. What are your predictions of the results based on the situation?
I am an hsv1 positive male and I recently found that my ex girlfriend/old flame recently tested positive for hsv2 on 12/12/2012. I found out on Christmas day! She told me went to get tested the week of 11/28/2012. Me and her had protected vaginal sex in August and September twice. No sex in October. Unprotected oral sex (I was receiver) on November 4th. No sex in December. I read threads of this website all of the time, but I couldn't find a thread that was similar to my situation. I know that hsv1 provides partial immunity to hsv2. I've been tested for hsv2 via blood on December 28, due to my anxiety taking the best of me. Me and my current girlfriend has had protected and unprotected vaginal sex unbeknownst that I may have been possibly exposed to hsv2. I would like to move on with my life with my new girlfriend who is totally aware that I have hsv1.
My questions are as follows:
1. Should I have even tested based on the low risks, provided that I used a condom?
2. Does my hsv1 provide additional protection?
3. What are your predictions of the results based on the situation?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question. However, I also looked at your discussion with Terri Warren on the herpes professional forum. You won't hear anything different from me.
Among long-term heterosexual couples in which one person has HSV-2, who have unprotected vaginal sex an average of 2-3 times per week, transmission occurs in about 5% of couples per year. That works out to a risk on the order of once for ever 1,000 exposures. It can be a lot higher than that in some circumstances, especially if the infected person caught herpes recently. But this gives a ballpark estimate that your chance of having been infected is quite low, given the relatively few sexual exposures you had. To your specific questions:
1) As Terri advised, you definitely should be tested. Not because you are at especially high risk, but because you'll probably keep worrying about it until you know for certain. Even if your test were to be positive, knowing for sure probably would reduce your stress and anxiety. Even for life threatening problems like HIV, learning a positive result is less stressful than worrying about it without knowing for sure.
2) Your HSV-1 status doesn't make much difference in your risk. HSV-1 tends to reduce the severity of new HSV-2 infections, but only slightly reduces the chance of transmission.
3) It is ulikely you were infected and I predict that if and when you are tested, it will be negative for HSV-2.
Once tested, feel free to return with a follow-up comment and let me know the result. But there is little point in speculating when a definitive answer is likely to be available, so I won't have any other comments or advice until then.
Best wishes and happy new year-- HHH, MD
Among long-term heterosexual couples in which one person has HSV-2, who have unprotected vaginal sex an average of 2-3 times per week, transmission occurs in about 5% of couples per year. That works out to a risk on the order of once for ever 1,000 exposures. It can be a lot higher than that in some circumstances, especially if the infected person caught herpes recently. But this gives a ballpark estimate that your chance of having been infected is quite low, given the relatively few sexual exposures you had. To your specific questions:
1) As Terri advised, you definitely should be tested. Not because you are at especially high risk, but because you'll probably keep worrying about it until you know for certain. Even if your test were to be positive, knowing for sure probably would reduce your stress and anxiety. Even for life threatening problems like HIV, learning a positive result is less stressful than worrying about it without knowing for sure.
2) Your HSV-1 status doesn't make much difference in your risk. HSV-1 tends to reduce the severity of new HSV-2 infections, but only slightly reduces the chance of transmission.
3) It is ulikely you were infected and I predict that if and when you are tested, it will be negative for HSV-2.
Once tested, feel free to return with a follow-up comment and let me know the result. But there is little point in speculating when a definitive answer is likely to be available, so I won't have any other comments or advice until then.
Best wishes and happy new year-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That's nice to hear. Congratulations!
Tested NEGATIVE!!! Thanks Doc.
Ok, thanks Dr. I will update you accordingly. It should be no later than 1/11.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
