valacyclovir Transmission rate

[clnow123]

Hi there. I seen online that you were one of the doctors that were part of the experiment of 700 couples that took valacyclovir. Was trying to understand what the study was saying when per 1000 sexual contacts within an 8-month period among susceptible partners that the acquisition rate was 0.60 for women. Does that mean 0.6 percent of women got herpes? What exactly does that mean? Was trying to figure out what percentage of those 1000 sexual contacts transmissioned herpes to their sexual partner. thank you.

[Terri Warren]

I think that’s difficult to understand as well. and I’m not sure I understand it in the context you’ve described here. And this study had the lowest rate of transmission of any I’ve seen in discordant couples, so let me try to explain it more broadly, if I may. Having sex about twice per week, male and females, with no outbreaks present and no interventions, the transmission rate overall is about 10%, that is about 10 women out of 100 will become infected in about one year. If the infected male takes antiviral medicine daily, it drops to about 5 women out of 100 and if condoms are used, it drops to about 2-3 women get infected per year. Condoms are by far the best deterrent to transmission. Remember that in this study, we had couples who had been together for a while, and most transmissions occur during the first three months of a relationship so we are really looking at what we call “survivors”, those who have not yet transmitted.
Is that helpful?

Terri

[clnow123]

What is the transmission rate if the infected partner gives oral sex to the partner while on the medication?

[Terri Warren]

If the person who is infected only has genital herpes, there is no risk of them giving oral sex to someone else.

Terri

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