New partner with HSV2

[Lilly]

I have recently met and fallen in love with a man who has disclosed that he is positive for HSV2. He has had 2 outbreaks in a year, they were not painful and he did not suffer any major symptoms other than a few bumps. I really want to continue the relationship but am afraid of how the virus could affect me (I do not have a good immune system and am already prone to frequent and uncomfortable yeast infections.)

My questions are;

– I have already given him oral sex. If I aquire genital herpes orally will it eventually show up on my genitals even though we have not had sex?

– if I am already susceptible to frequent imbalance could it mean I may get more frequent and painful outbreaks?

– What are the chances of me acquiring genital herpes even if we use protection (he was infected even though he used a condom).

[Terri Warren]

No. If you acquire HSV 2 orally, it will stay in that area of your body and will basically vaccinate you against acquiring it genitally. Have you actually had an antibody test to determine that you don’t have HSV 2? twenty five percent of women in the US between the ages of 14 and 49 have HSV 2 but 80% don’t know it, do if you’ve not yet been tested, you should get tested with an IgG type specific antibody test.

Not necessarily. Whatever causes you to have frequent yeast infections may have nothing to do with what might happen with genital herpes.

The odds of you acquiring herpes from him, using condoms AND him taking daily antivlral therapy, which he should be doing, are 3 out 100 in a year, if you have sex about twice per week.

Terri

[Lilly]

Thank you Terri,

I just went for a test for HSV 2 yesterday along with a full panel of STD tests at planned parenthood. I do not not know if it was IgG type specific.. What difference does this make? I have never had any symptoms.

Another question I have is regarding his attitude to HSV 2. I am extremely grateful that he disclosed his status to me but am a little concerned that he thinks he can rid his body of it. From what I have read this is scientifically impossible. Am I right ? He seems to think he will test negative next time he tests as he has only had two minor non-painful outbreaks in a year and is otherwise extremely healthy with a strong immune system. From what I know, once you have it you will always be able to infect someone no matter how minor your own symptoms are.

[Terri Warren]

If the test is not type specific, that means there can be cross reactivity between HSV 1 and HSV 2. My guess is that Planned Parenthood would only use type specific antibody testing and I believe only IgG.

It is not possible to rid your body of HSV 2, you are correct. The frequency of outbreaks says nothing about whether the virus is in your body or not, unfortunately. You are correct about the life long infectiousness.

Terri

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