Would this put wife at risk of type 2?

[Karen Walker]

New husband has had type 1 oral since childhood. He got type 2 from late wife 30 yrs ago. He gets 1 cold sore every year or 2. Hasn’t had a genital outbreak for 10+ yrs.

I have type 1 oral and genital (swab test and IGG) and ocular (diagnosed by ophthalmologist).

I haven’t had an oral or genital outbreak since my initial outbreak 5 yrs ago. Eye acts up 3-4 times per year. I see ophthalmologist annually.

We both take Valtrex daily.

Husband it to help prevent me from getting type 2.

I take It to keep my eye under control, along with steroid drops when it acts up.

We don’t use condoms and never have. That was our choice. When we met, I was already taking Valtrex daily. I shared info with him that I learned in this forum and handbook. He started Valtrex to help protect me. We waited to have sex until he had been on it for a while.

Today at he had annual physical at VA hospital. Doc who prescribed Valtrex has retired.

Husband came home. “I learned something new. You may not like this, but I’m going to listen to the doctor. She says I don’t need to take Valtrex since it’s been 10 yrs without an outbreak.”

I don’t trust many doctors, especially about HSV. Most doctors know very little about it. In fact, when I was infected and had a massive outbreak five years ago, I was misdiagnosed by my own doctor. Then two dermatologists and two nurses told me incorrect info, such as I don’t have to disclose to potential partners and it can’t be transmitted unless I’m having an outbreak.

I told him, “But this would put me at risk of getting type 2.”

He said he didn’t discuss that aspect of taking Valtrex with this doctor.

He wants to quit Valtrex.

I think it would put me at risk of getting type 2.

Your thoughts?

[Terri Warren]

I would strongly disagree with his doctor. We did a study of people who were infected for 10 years or more, specifically, with daily home swabbing of the genitalia, and the majority did swab test positive. His taking Valtrex reduces the risk of you acquiring HSV 2 for sure. However, the risk is not high after 10 years but still present. Perhaps he doesn’t understand that Valtrex is only activated in the presence of herpes virus enzymes, so if there is no virus present, the medicine is just peed out, unchanged. What is his concern about taking Valtrex?

I sure hope it doesn’t come down to you having to choose between a greater likelihood of you getting herpes or being with him, not taking Valtrex. Surely there is a middle ground. What can I do to help?

Terri

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