My girlfriend is HSV2 positive, Is there a chance I have some immunity?

[yellowlab72]

I have been with my beautiful girlfriend for over 3.5 years. I trust her 100% that she has been faithful during our relationship. About 2 years ago she had what appeared to be an ingrown hair on her labia. Her doctor agreed at that time. About 6 months ago she had another of what appeared to be an ingrown hair. She went to the doctor and did a swab test which came back HSV2 positive. I believe she had a blood test which confirmed the HSV2 diagnosis 3 months later. I had a blood test last month which came back negative. So we have had unprotected sex hundreds of times over 3 years and I have not contracted the HSV2 virus ( including oral sex).
I have had chicken pox, as a child, and shingles when I was 20. I am now 43.
1. Is it possible I have some immunity to the virus? or is it just a matter of time that I will most likely contract the virus?
2. If she has genital HSV2, what are the chances I could get oral HSV2 thru oral sex?

[Terri Warren]

Yes, it is possible that you have some immunity to the virus. One study actually demonstrate that the longer you are with someone who has HSV 2 and you don’t get it, the less likely you are to get it over time. That immunity is not absolute. When you say oral sex ,do you mean giving her oral sex or receiving oral sex from her?
If she decides to take daily antiviral therapy is will reduce your risk of acquiring HSV 2 by almost half.

Terri

[yellowlab72]

1. If she has genital HSV2, what are the chances I could get oral HSV2 on my face thru me performing oral sex on her vagina?

2. She did receive a prescription for Acyclovir , 400 mg twice a day , every day.
Which I see from other posts, if taken daily, could put her risk of transmitting the virus to me as low as 1% to 2 % . “with daily antiviral therapy regular condom use it and intercourse between outbreaks, can drop to about 1%. ” Which to me looks like a lower risk than starting a new relationship. ie. ” sex with someone who says “no, I don’t have herpes”, but actually does (80% of those infected don’t know they are), then the transmission rate if going to be way higher because they don’t know they are infected they are doing nothing to reduce the risk of infecting a partner. And since 1 in 4 women in the US between 14 and 49 have HSV 2, the odds that he will encounter this situation are quite high.”

3. We have also seen very positive reviews about L-Lysine, 1500mg. reviews on Amazon are very positive. People say that the L-Lysine has greatly reduced their HSV 1 and HSV 2 outbreaks.
What are your thoughts on L-Lysine? any reason not to try it? negative side effects?

[Terri Warren]

1. If she has genital HSV2, what are the chances I could get oral HSV2 on my face thru me performing oral sex on her vagina?

It is unlikely as HSV 2 doesn’t like the mouth much at all. but I cannot say there is zero risk. If you did acquire HSV 2 orally, it would look like a cold sore and very rarely recur would protect you against genital infection.

2. She did receive a prescription for Acyclovir , 400 mg twice a day , every day.
Which I see from other posts, if taken daily, could put her risk of transmitting the virus to me as low as 1% to 2 % . “with daily antiviral therapy regular condom use it and intercourse between outbreaks, can drop to about 1%. ” Which to me looks like a lower risk than starting a new relationship. ie. ” sex with someone who says “no, I don’t have herpes”, but actually does (80% of those infected don’t know they are), then the transmission rate if going to be way higher because they don’t know they are infected they are doing nothing to reduce the risk of infecting a partner. And since 1 in 4 women in the US between 14 and 49 have HSV 2, the odds that he will encounter this situation are quite high.”

Correct

3. We have also seen very positive reviews about L-Lysine, 1500mg. reviews on Amazon are very positive. People say that the L-Lysine has greatly reduced their HSV 1 and HSV 2 outbreaks.
What are your thoughts on L-Lysine? any reason not to try it? negative side effects?

There is no reason not to try it but the science (vs. anecdotal statements) does not support, in a meta-analysis, the benefit of lysine.

Terri

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