HSV-2 partners – risk of transferring orally

[sean95]

I am male. My partner is male. We both have genital herpes. I have not had any outbreaks. He has had anal outbreaks.

Can we transfer this to any other location where we don’t already have HSV-2?

For example, if I originally contracted it on my penis, could I transfer it to his mouth?

Or, for another example, if I originally contracted it on my penis, could I transfer it to his penis?

Thanks…

[Terri Warren]

I would start by asking you how you know you I Have genital herpes if you have never had an outbreak? If you were diagnosed by a blood antibody test, it is important that you know that the index value of that test results is higher than 3.5. There are false positives on this antibody test and we need to be certain that you are actually infected so you are not putting yourself at new risk, without knowing it, by having sex with an HSV-2 positive partner. If you are both truly positive and infected, there is very little risk of either of you getting herpes type II in the new location on your body. Of course you need to be careful about the other sexually transmitted infections including HIV but in terms of herpes, we do not suggest protections when both partners are infected with the same virus.

Terri

[sean95]

This is not a question. But, for your readers’ info, the reason I know is because I had a western blot through you. 🙂

[Terri Warren]

oh good, well, then it’s clear!

So my initial statement stands: Since you are both infected, there is very little risk of either of you getting herpes type II in the new location on your body. Of course you need to be careful about the other sexually transmitted infections including HIV but in terms of herpes, we do not suggest protections when both partners are infected with the same virus as far as the herpes is concerned.

Terri

[sean95]

Follow-on question:

As noted, I have genital herpes HSV-2.

What is the risk of me getting oral herpes, either HSV-1 or HSV-2 orally?

Thanks…

[sean95]

In regards to my last question, your original answer above answered about getting HSV-2 orally. So, to focus your answer this time, I’m wondering what the risk of getting HSV-1 orally (or even genitally) is if I already have genital HSV-2.

Thanks…

[Terri Warren]

The risk of getting HSV 1 after already having HSV 2 is about 1 in 55,000, based on pregnancy studies done at UW looking for seroconversion to HSV 1 in HSV 2 positive people.

Terri

[sean95]

I believe I’m allowed one more question. To summarize info from above, I have HSV-2, I have had no symptoms (external anyway), my HSV-2 was confirmed with a western blot.

I am taking 500mg Valocylovir daily since I’m not having symptoms and as confirmed by you.

I am feeling things internally that are, well, not normal for me. If I’m interpreting them correctly as prodrome symptoms, I’m wondering…

If over the year I have 10 or more occurrences of these prodrome symptoms, assuming that’s what they are, should I increase my dosage to 1g daily?

Thanks…

[Terri Warren]

You could try 500 mg twice a day to see if it makes any difference in these symptoms. Sometimes I prefer the twice a day dosing as it keeps drug levels a bit more even than one big dose once a day.

Terri

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