(HSV2) Transmission after symptoms/healing

[flowergirl123]

Hi Terri,

I’ve had HSV2 for 5+ years now. I’ve always disclosed to partners prior to being physical and I’m currently in a serious relationship- we have open communication and my partner trusts me with any judgements I make HSV2-related. I take 500mg of valtrex each day for suppression therapy and to keep my partner safe. While on vacation and not sexually active (he wasn’t with me), I experienced a small outbreak and immediately changed my dose to 1000mg 3x/day starting Monday morning (4 days ago) and my symptoms are now completely gone, both visibly and feeling-wise (nerves, surface area, etc). How many days should I continue to wait before my partner and I become intimate again? He trusts me and my judgement, but I want to keep him as safe as possible. The resources I’ve found on other websites haven’t been entirely clear, so I’m curious about what the best practice on this one would be.

Grateful that I found your website.

Thanks a ton!

[Terri Warren]

At this point, the risk of transmission to him goes back to a baseline risk, which is about 2% annually for infected women having sex with uninfected men, have sex about twice a week. If it were me, I would wait another few days to have sex, however.

The websites that you read aren’t clear on this because there is no 100% clear answer as viral shedding is always a possibility, even on suppression.

Terri

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