There are no studies of intermittent use of antiherpetic drugs and the efficacy in preventing transmission. However, there is no reason to believe it would not work to protect an uninfected partner. It usually takes 2-3 days but sometimes up to 5 days for viral replication and shedding to be shut down completely, so you should start treatment at least 5 days before anticipated sex. The dose of 500 mg twice daily is fine, but it would be equally effective and more convenient to just take 1 g (1000 mg) once a day.
The theoretical downside is development of drug resistance in your HSV-2 strain. That risk probably is low, and in itself is not a reason not to follow through. However, it is very important you not get into a pattern of frequent starting and stopping. An on-off regimen over only a few days (3-5 days on, a few days off, then repeat) would carry a very high risk. So the dilemmat will come if or when you and your partner start seeing each other more frequently, or if you want to allow for a spontaneous/surprise visit. If these are significant possibilities, I would rather you just take the drug daily.
Oral sex is apparently fairly low risk for HSV-2. There probably will always be some small risk he could acquire HSV-2 orally by performing oral sex on you, but given the frequency of both genital HSV-2 and oral sex among sexually active people, combined with the rarity of oral herpes due to HSV-2, the transmission risk must be quite low. In any case, valacyclovir treatment should lower that risk further.
It is nice to see a level-headed perspective on genital herpes, both yours and your partners'. Definitely not the norm on this forum!
HHH, MD
Isn't 500mg once a day okay for suppressive therapy/partner protection?
Thanks for the answer. I may be level headed now but it wasn't the best news I have ever had. Once I got over my own dismay I armed myself with as much information as I could. Knowlege is power and what is done is done. I am hoping this will just be an occasional nuisance that I must deal with. I have since purchased several books that have been very helpful, and also gave current partner a book - "Understanding Herpes" and several articles from the internet so he knows what he is getting into. Quick question, though. What type of doctor is best suited for HSV questions and diagnoses? I went to a Gynocologist. I read someplace - maybe here - that a dermatologist might be a better bet.
Understanding Herpes is an excellent book and Charlie Ebel, the author, a respected colleague and friend. And as you probably have learned, the publisher--the American Social Health Association--is an excellent resource on herpes. And that's my advice about finding a provider: contact ASHA (www.ashastd.org), which maintains lists of providers reported to be knowledgeable and understanding about genital herpes. There is no firm guideline based on specialty: a family med doc here, a gyn there, a dermatologist somewhere else.