How Concerned should I be about Transmission?

[Tony18922]

Hello,

I am an HSV-2 positive (5 years) male that only gets out breaks on the penile shaft. A few days ago I started getting symptoms of prodrome and I immediately began taking my anti viral medication (Valcyclovir) and I stopped having symptoms. Yesterday my negative girlfriend of 5 years engaged in anal sex (we don’t use condoms), when I showered afterwards, I noticed some really tiny pink spots on my shaft like there had been a scab there that ripped off during sex. I’m really concerned I gave it to her and will feel so very guilty if I did.

I guess I’m looking for some positive statistics or any information could be encouraging. I’ve been clinging onto the idea that because I was in the healing phase and taking anti-virals there’s an even smaller chance of transmission.

Edit: I’m not sure if this is noteworthy info, but I’ve been taking anti – virals for the last 3 days or so since prodrome.

• This topic was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by Tony18922.

[Terri Warren]

I’m afraid I cannot offer you reassurance here. Anal sex presents a real risk of transmission to a partner. However, it is good that this may have happened late in an outbreak and also good that you were taking antiviral medication.

If you’ve not used condoms for five years together, are you sure she was still uninfected at the time of this contact?

The time from infection to symptoms is 2-10 days so you both should be on the look-out for symptoms for the next little while.

I have a question for you – why are you not taking daily antiviral medication if you do indeed have an HSV 2 negative partner?And condoms reduce transmission of HSV 2 by 96% so are very useful in reducing transmission as well.

Terri

[Tony18922]

I’m honestly not sure she doesn’t have it, she hasn’t been tested for it since year two of our relationship I think. She could be asymptomatic, recently she has complained about tingly feeling in her legs and vagina, but that can be a symptom of radiculopathy aswell.

My prescription only says to take anti-vitals twice a day for 3 days(500 mg Valacyclovir). So I didn’t know if I needed a different dosage for daily consumption.

I’m crossing my fingers that the late stage of the outbreak coupled with my anti-vitals does the trick.

Today is day number 3 since exposure, and she has absolutely no symptoms at all.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by Tony18922.

[Terri Warren]

I’m hoping that by now, she also has no symptoms. The daily dose for suppression of Valley cyclever is 500 mg once a day. If someone breaks through with an outbreak on that dose, they can safely increase the dose to 1 g a day, every day.
Terri

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