Oh No Do I have Herpes Now?? ?!


Question: Oh No Do I have Herpes Now.?.? .?
My boyfriend has genital herpes and I do not. We are always very safe and use condoms 100% of the time no matter what. He also takes Valtrex. Today we were having sex and afterwards realized the condom broke. He has not had an outbreak in over 4 months and there are no visible signs of anything on him right now. I know that doesnt always matter because of viral shedding. Does this mean I now have herpes too.? We are both really concerned. Please if you have any legit experience or knowledge can you lend it to me.?!.? Health Question & Answer


Answers:
I've put a link to a study on the transmission of genital herpes.

For couples like yourselves where
a) he is very very careful never to have sex when there is even a hint of an outbreak and
b) he is on suppressive antiviral therapy.
the rate of transmission in the study was 1% per year.

I think this is probably artificially low. The couples were deluged with information about how to avoid herpes, so they were unusually careful. But still, the chance is low. Like less than 5% per year low. Really low.

And, as someone else has pointed out, condoms do a great job of protecting against many STDs. Herpes, unfortunately, isn't one of them.

Great question.Health Question & Answer

I think that you're going to be okay. One of my really good friends has herpes and takes Valtrex daily. Her husband has never contracted the virus in the 7 years they've been together and they don't even use condoms!

I know it's hard not to worry but even if you do get herpes it's not the end of the world. I know quite a few people with it, and they lead normal lives.




Health Question & Answer

You don't automatically have herpes now. Give it a couple of weeks and get tested. My guess is that you're fine. Health Question & Answer

i thought u were trying for a baby, how can u be using condoms the enitre time.? xx

your question:
.?qid=20081017091921AALRBcH">http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...Health Question & Answer

Totally possible. Get tested at a free clinicHealth Question & Answer

First of all condoms do not do much to prevent herpes since it takes skin to skin or genital to genital contact to pass herpes on and herpes doesn't always occur on just the shaft, they can occur any where on the genitals. If there was some thing going on out side of where the condom protects then you could still get herpes.
He is on Valtrex which suppresses out breaks, helps prevent them and can protect you from getting herpes. If he did NOT have an out break at the time you had sex then there would be a very small chance of you getting herpes. But there doesn't always have to be an out break to pass herpes on, a person with herpes is LESS contagious when they do not have an out break. The chances of you getting herpes is less then 10 percent but there is still a very small chance.
I would suggest getting tested for herpes in about a month or two because antibodies for herpes can take time to build up. Or if you experience any symptoms then please get tested. That is the only way to find out for sure if you have herpes or not.
I have oral and genital herpes. I have both on my genitals and cold sores (oral herpes) on my mouth. Both from my boy friend of 3 years.Health Question & Answer

you can actually catch it while using a condom as it lives on the skin in the surrounding area....

unless you have a break out there is no way of testing you for it is what i was told, you just have to keep an eye out, but if he does not have a breakout i would think its very unlikely.

I had a partner years ago who told me he'd had a breakout after we broke up and I went to the clinic but as i didn't have any symptoms they couldn't confirm if id got it or not and i haven't had a break out ever in the 7 years since so im pretty sure he didn't pass it on.

you will be happy to know other that being uncomfortable and itchy it doesn't have any effect on your fertility or anything like that according to the research i did, just something you have to be aware of and get treated if it flares up!Health Question & Answer

As you are probably aware, condoms don't always protect against HSV2. Covering the area is a great idea but if anyone else reads this, I don't want them to think they will be fully protected from HSV simply by wearing a condom. (HSV is transmitted by contact with the herpes simplex virus through broken skin, mucous membrane, the vagina etc.)

Now, back to your question:) You're are probably fine. Viral shedding does not occur all the time. Most of the time the virus lies dormant in the CNS and is harmless. Most often outbreaks occur because of a lowered immune system, (e.g. an upper respiratory infection, stomach bug, etc.) or from vigorous irritation. HSV also likes to reemerge in close proximity to the first outbreak.

Several Factors would have to coexist in order for you to contract the virus.
1) He would need to be experience "viral shedding". Not always, but most of the time is accompanied by a visible outbreak.

2) You would had to absorbed it through a break in the skin. HSV2 does not thrive as well inside the vagina and prefers the vulva. Although the break can be microscopic there has to be an entry point for the virus into the blood stream. (Contrary to popular belief, this does not occur by osmosis.)

BTW, 1 out of ever 8 people have either HSV1 or HSV2 so if you do contract it, you are not alone. It's very treatable and outbreaks are easily managed and short-lived in a health adult. :)

In conclusion, DON"T FREAK OUT! Stressing can lower your immune system. It's very, very common and easily treatable. Health Question & Answer



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