20 year old diagnosis

[Ruth]

I was diagnosed 20 years ago with HSV2. I don’t even recall if they did a blood test, or if it was, indeed, a visual diagnosis. I simply remember that no sooner had I lost my virginity (really, the first partner) than I felt like damaged goods. Yay for me.

I have had several partners since – some to whom I disclosed prior to sexual involvement, some after (as I matured, I realized that it was contageous even if I didn’t have the sores (shedding), so I started disclosing before intimacy). I have gone back to ask my previous partners if they ever had any symptoms to which the reply was always “no”. I have been told that the virus can change over time and can become less agressive. I believe mine has done this.

I take care of myself – eat right, get enough sleep, take supplements, try to keep stress levels low, use H-balm whenever I feel the tingling/shedding (which resolves it in 48 hours or less), and avoid contact when I feel any tingling. I haven’t had an outbreak in over 8 years.

I have tried to reassure my new partner that it is not as scary as the sites will make you think, but he’s still uncomfortable about it. Is there any information you may have that may help? I know that it’s contageous when the sores are present, but that was never an issue since I couldn’t even walk right when I was broken out, much less able to engage in sex. If I’m not tingling/shedding is it still contageous?

[Terri Warren]

I think the first thing to do is an antibody test to see if you have HSV 1 or HSV 2 or both. You mention that you haven’t had an outbreak in 8 years, but I still think it would definitely be worth finding out if you have HSV 1 or 2.

Most people do have fewer outbreaks over time, yes. After 20 years, I would expect that there likely has been significant decrease in your symptoms, if you are indeed having them.

Has your new partner been tested to see his status, herpes wise? Since 80% of those infected with HSV 2 don’t know it, I think it would be important for him also to get an antibody test to determine that he does or does not have something to be concerned about in terms of transmission. Once you both have your antibody test results, you can see what the true picture is and then decide more intelligently what to do about it. If indeed, you have HSV 2 and he does not, I would strongly recommend that you take daily antiviral therapy to reduce the risk by about half of infecting him. We know there are o long term health issues from taking antiviral medicine daily = either acyclovir or valtrex would be fine. Acyclovir is 400 mg twice a day and valtrex (or valacyclovir 500 mg once a day). Even though you have no symptoms currently, you can be infectious, which I think you already know. Tingling can be sign of viral activity yes, but it could also not be, not able to know without swabbing, which I think is less important than knowing your antibody status, both of you.

Antiviral therapy can be cheap – about 16$ per month if using the right prescription for acyclovir. I can help you with how that should be written. Perhaps H-balm helps YOU with your symptoms, but it is not going to help your partner be more protected against transmission. I think that is something very positive that you can do for him to help reassure him at this point.

What do you think about that?

Terri

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