HSV

[detroitola]

After setting up my account I realize I may have done it wrong. But here goes.

Hi… I was recently infected with GHSV2. I am a male and this is my first STD. I am on daily 500 mg Valtrex. So far I have had one OB. I have also read every post on your site and I have a few questions.

1. If I have sex with a female who is also GHSV2 infected could I get a worse strain (more severe symptoms) than the one I have which appears to be mild compared to what I have seen and read on the internet ?

2. Is the incidence of transmission about the same for protected (with condoms and daily Valtrex) vaginal sex as it is for unprotected oral sex with daily suppressive therapy ?

3. What is the transmission rate for protected oral sex with daily suppressive therapy to a non infected partner (no HSV1 or 2) ?

4. Since I already have GHVS2, can I get GHVS1 or OHSV1 ?

5. Can I still get OHSV2 ?

6. A little redundant, but can a female partner with GHSV2 get OHSV2 from me ?

7. Would it be more prudent to just go straight from 500 mg a day to a 1000 mg a day of Valtrex to better suppress my infection ?

8. My current partner has OHSV1 (got it at 1 year old, and proved through testing). She is now 20 and has not had an OB since she was one (that she can remember). Is she at any risk of getting OHSV2 from performing oral sex on me bare (or with a condom)?

[Terri Warren]

Before I answer you questions, I want to ask you a few. How exactly were you diagnosed with HSV 2? Swab test from a lesion, blood antibody test? Do you have symptoms of genital herpes or do you just test positive by antibody test? If you were just diagnosed by antibody test, do you know the number associated with your test results?

1. If I have sex with a female who is also GHSV2 infected could I get a worse strain (more severe symptoms) than the one I have which appears to be mild compared to what I have seen and read on the internet ?
While it is possible that you could acquire a new strain of virus from someone who is HSV 2 positive, it is not likely and will not likely have any implications in terms of frequency of recurrence or severity of outbreak.

2. Is the incidence of transmission about the same for protected (with condoms and daily Valtrex) vaginal sex as it is for unprotected oral sex with daily suppressive therapy ?
We don’t have any information about the likelihood of transmission of HSV 2 by someone giving you oral sex.

3. What is the transmission rate for protected oral sex with daily suppressive therapy to a non infected partner (no HSV1 or 2) ?
Again, we have no data at all on transmission rates via someone giving you oral sex. Sorry about that. We do know that oral HSV 2, by itself, is not common, but you need to know that for sure we have no data on your question.

4. Since I already have GHVS2, can I get GHVS1 or OHSV1 ?
No, now that you have HSV 2, you are almost certain not to acquire HSV 1 if you don’t already have it. Do you know for sure that you don’t already have it?

5. Can I still get OHSV2 ?
No, once you have infection in one location, you are extremely unlikely to get it in a new location

6. A little redundant, but can a female partner with GHSV2 get OHSV2 from me ?
No, see above.

7. Would it be more prudent to just go straight from 500 mg a day to a 1000 mg a day of Valtrex to better suppress my infection ?
No, we don’t have any evidence that that necessarily works better for suppression in a person with less than 9 outbreaks per year.

8. My current partner has OHSV1 (got it at 1 year old, and proved through testing). She is now 20 and has not had an OB since she was one (that she can remember). Is she at any risk of getting OHSV2 from performing oral sex on me bare (or with a condom)?
Yes, she could acquire HSV 2 by giving you oral sex without a condom. However, if she did get HSV 2 orally, she would essentially be vaccinated for HSV 2 genitally.

Terri

[detroitola]

Thanks for answering. I have had one outbreak. I was tested positive via swab (PCR). I have tested negative for HSV1 a few times over the years via blood test and the last swab and I have never had any oral symptoms.

My only OB was very small and was mus-diagnosed by two doctors by visual exam. But the PCR showed positive for GHSV2 even though the IGG was negative. I suppose my IGG will be positive eventually. All other STD tests now and in the past have been negative.

[Terri Warren]

OK. Then the answers I provided are correct, based on you actually having HSV 2.

Terri

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