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Possible Herpes Transmission
Dear Dr.
I recently (2 days ago) had uprotected oral and vaginal sex with a new love interest. After the fact, she told me that she had herpes. She has not had an outbreak in over a year, did not currently have an outbreak, didn't feel like one was coming on and takes daily Valtrex. I am very worried that I have gotton it. After researching, I am confused about the "shedding" process and the possiblilty of transmission if she was in a latent phase. Also is it carried in fluids all the time etc. Can you please tell me the chances I got it. I have seen nothing yet but it is early. This will be the last time I sleep with this person. Please advise, Thank you so much.
I recently (2 days ago) had uprotected oral and vaginal sex with a new love interest. After the fact, she told me that she had herpes. She has not had an outbreak in over a year, did not currently have an outbreak, didn't feel like one was coming on and takes daily Valtrex. I am very worried that I have gotton it. After researching, I am confused about the "shedding" process and the possiblilty of transmission if she was in a latent phase. Also is it carried in fluids all the time etc. Can you please tell me the chances I got it. I have seen nothing yet but it is early. This will be the last time I sleep with this person. Please advise, Thank you so much.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Herpes doesn't cause such red spots. Stop examining yourself so closely; you're probably just seeing normal anatomy of your scrotuas skin. Just a casual glance at your penis once a day is all you need. You won't miss a herpetic blister or sore.
That will have to end this thread. Take care.
That will have to end this thread. Take care.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Everybody with HSV-2 sheds virus a few percent of the time, regardless of symptoms. Often the amount of virus is low and not easily transmitted. The transmission risk figures I gave you take asymptomatic shedding into account.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
The chance you were infected is extremely low -- not zero, but probably close to it. If you were to begin a commited, ongoing relationship with this partner, the odds are you would go a lifetime of regular sex and never catch her HSV infection. For each episode of unprotected vaginal sex in this situation -- i.e., no outbreak at the time, no recent outbreaks, and taking Valtrex -- the chance of transmission probably is one in several thousand.
It saddens me to see "This will be the last time I sleep with this person", especially since you describe her as "a new love interest", suggesting there was the promise of a romantic and possibly committed relationship. Genital herpes is an inconvenient but impersonal viral infection that should not be important enough to interfere with romance and love. If in fact you saw no long term potential, perhaps your decision is appropriate. Even so, I hope your explanation to her about cutting things off was sensitive and caring. You might owe her dinner and flowers, regardless of whether you rethink the future of the relationship.
Back to your primary concern: Be on the lookout for penile blisters, sores, etc. If none appear within the next couple of weeks (they usually show up within 4-5 days), you can consider yourself home free.
HHH, MD
The chance you were infected is extremely low -- not zero, but probably close to it. If you were to begin a commited, ongoing relationship with this partner, the odds are you would go a lifetime of regular sex and never catch her HSV infection. For each episode of unprotected vaginal sex in this situation -- i.e., no outbreak at the time, no recent outbreaks, and taking Valtrex -- the chance of transmission probably is one in several thousand.
It saddens me to see "This will be the last time I sleep with this person", especially since you describe her as "a new love interest", suggesting there was the promise of a romantic and possibly committed relationship. Genital herpes is an inconvenient but impersonal viral infection that should not be important enough to interfere with romance and love. If in fact you saw no long term potential, perhaps your decision is appropriate. Even so, I hope your explanation to her about cutting things off was sensitive and caring. You might owe her dinner and flowers, regardless of whether you rethink the future of the relationship.
Back to your primary concern: Be on the lookout for penile blisters, sores, etc. If none appear within the next couple of weeks (they usually show up within 4-5 days), you can consider yourself home free.
HHH, MD
Thank you sooooo much for all your help. Your knowledge has been a god sent!
I just gave myself an inspection and I found some tiny red dots on my scrotum sack. I don't inspect that area so I don't know if it is normal or cause for concern so early since it is right at 48 hrs after the act. I know you said that I need to be looking at the penis shaft. Any insight?
I guess my main concern was this shedding thing which in all you read can be contageous in between breakouts which she hasn't had in over a year. I have no idea about that. Can you touch on that? You have been very helpful!
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.
