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Hi,
For the last few years I have struggled with health anxiety regarding the possibility of getting herpes. I have tested negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2 via tests done at the Westover Heights clinic.I am a 30 year-old male and recently began a relationship with a 35 year old female. We met under unusual circumstances, as we have both been recently diagnosed with different kinds of cancer. She has disclosed to me that 8 years ago she contracted genital herpes via HSV-1, the virus that ususally causes cold sores in the mouth area. She said during the initial year she had 3 outbreaks. Since then, she has had one outbreak every 1.5 years or so. She said the sores appear right inside the opening of her vagina.
This girl is special, and I am excited about our relationship. I’m not going to let herpes get between us–I think being diagnosed with cancer has made the possibility of contracting cold sores seems less of a big deal. I would like to avoid contracting herpes (particularly genitally, but orally as well) and would want to minimize the risk of transmission.
Questions:
1) What are the odds of her transmitting HSV-1 to me genitally? I know the odds are about 4 percent per a year for female to male genital transmission of HSV-2, but what about HSV-1? How much would condom use cut the risk? How much would antivirals cut the risk, and would you recommend she take antivirals to reduce transmission?
2) How liikely is it that I could contract oral herpes from engaging in cunnillingus, especially when she isn’t expetrience an outbtreak or predromal symptoms? Should I avoid oral sex with her?
3) I dislike condom use–but will use them to prevent trsansmission of herpes. Are antivirals as effective as condoms at preventing trasnsmission?
4) Generally, what do you recommend I do moving forward to minimize risk of transmission? Is it likely that I could be with her long-term without contracting herpes?
5) Does the fact that she has had herpes for 8 years lower the risk of transmission?
6) Do you know of any info that would lead you to believe contracting herpes has any impact on my cancer prognosis? I’m guessing there’s not much info on this topic, but I figured I’d ask.Feel free to answer my questions one at a time or in one big blurb.
Thank you so much,
Matt -
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1) What are the odds of her transmitting HSV-1 to me genitally? I know the odds are about 4 percent per a year for female to male genital transmission of HSV-2, but what about HSV-1? How much would condom use cut the risk? How much would antivirals cut the risk, and would you recommend she take antivirals to reduce transmission?
We don’t have exact odds on HSV 1 genital to genital transmission. But it is way less than 4% per year, and that 4% per year for HSV 2 is without medicine. With medicine, HSV 2 reduces to about 2%. So HSV 1 might be well under 1%.
2) How likely is it that I could contract oral herpes from engaging in cunnillingus, especially when she isn’t expetrience an outbtreak or predromal symptoms? Should I avoid oral sex with her?
Again, the odds are small for transmission as HSV 1 is shed infrequently from the genital tract. I can’t tell you that it is zero but if you did get oral HSV 1, you could join the 56% of the adult US population that has HSV 1, even though you might prefer not to.
3) I dislike condom use–but will use them to prevent trsansmission of herpes. Are antivirals as effective as condoms at preventing trasnsmission?
Antivirals are probably more effective than condoms. Again, I think the risk is low with her on medication.
4) Generally, what do you recommend I do moving forward to minimize risk of transmission? Is it likely that I could be with her long-term without contracting herpes?
Yes I do think you can be with her long term without contracting her HSV 1 infection. No guarantees but unlikely.
5) Does the fact that she has had herpes for 8 years lower the risk of transmission?
It does. People are most infectious in the first few years of having these viruses.
6) Do you know of any info that would lead you to believe contracting herpes has any impact on my cancer prognosis? I’m guessing there’s not much info on this topic, but I figured I’d ask.
The only thing here is that if you did contract herpes and then had to undergo more chemo, it will suppress your immune system and you would need to likely take more antiviral therapy to keep the virus from being symptomatic.
Terri
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