Question about risk — discordant couple

[anxietymaven]

Hi Terri,

We’ve spoken a few times over the last 7 years and you have always been so helpful.

I am in a 10 year monogamous relationship with a man who is positive for HSV 1 and 2. As of my WB test in 2016, I am negative for both and have not had any outbreaks that I know of. My partner has been taking Valtrex suppressive therapy daily for the last 7 years of our 10 year relationship. He has had two very minor outbreaks in the last 10 years, the most recent one was 10 days ago as he was off his meds during a 3 month stint overseas. He is now home and back on Valtrex daily. The one sore I could see had largely healed after about 7 days — I could sort of see the outline of where it was. We used a condom once and at day 10 I could no longer see anything on his penis, so we resumed having unprotected sex which we have been doing for the majority of our relationship. I am a highly anxious person with OCD, so I know I will be anxious about this for a few weeks.

My rational mind tells me this is likely fine: He’s been back on meds for 10 days, there was no longer a visible sore, he’s had herpes for over 30 years and rarely has outbreaks, and I’ve been exposed to him for a decade and seem to have remained uninfected (even when he wasn’t taking meds in the first few years). Do you agree this latest event doesn’t pose any more risk than the last many years?

Generally speaking, how long does it take for a herpes sore to heal? His don’t really scab over, he said. They just open up a bit and heal over within a couple of days.

Thank you for doing what you do!

[Terri Warren]

I would agree that this latest event doesn’t pose any more risk than the last many years, correct.
It takes 3-10 days for most lesions from recurrences to heal.

Terri

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