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How Is The HSV 2 Infection Transmitted?
Question: Hello, I have a question about herpes. I am a 49 year old woman. I had a blood test many years ago and tested positive for antibodies for both HSV1 and HSV2. I have never had any sores on my mouth. My mother used to get cold sores so I am guessing I got HSV1 from her, but I have never had any symptoms. I have only ever had one HSV2 outbreak, the primary, and only outbreak I have ever had: in 1997, on my genitals. It was not severe. I have been on suppressive therapy since 1997 and never had another outbreak. I have a new partner (I am a lesbian), who is not infected, and I want to protect her. Given that I have never had an oral sore or any HSV1 symptoms, and I have been on suppressive therapy for 18 years, how likely is it that I can infect my partner by performing oral sex on her? Another question: If she is performing oral sex on me, and we are using a barrier, and I am symptom free, can she become infected by licking vaginal fluid that leaks outside the barrier (say, from my thigh)? Finally, can my partner become infected by using her fingers/hands on my genitals directly, even if I am not symptomatic, and then touching any part of her body? Should she avoid touching me ever, without protection? Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Infection can occur if protection is not employed, else not.
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
We must remember that you have tested positive for herpes. This disease can remain in a masked condition and be invisible for all good purposes to the naked eye. We know that herpes is infectious and as you have asked, it is a reality that it can indeed be transmitted, by genital oral contact or by contact with secretions and fluids from the genitals. The likelihood cannot be precisely predicted, but given repeated regular encounters, it is almost a certainity that the infection will be transmitted. You can however, for all practical purposes use a female condom. And can avoid fluid contact.
I can clarify an doubts that you might possess.
Thanks,
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Infection can occur if protection is not employed, else not.
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
We must remember that you have tested positive for herpes. This disease can remain in a masked condition and be invisible for all good purposes to the naked eye. We know that herpes is infectious and as you have asked, it is a reality that it can indeed be transmitted, by genital oral contact or by contact with secretions and fluids from the genitals. The likelihood cannot be precisely predicted, but given repeated regular encounters, it is almost a certainity that the infection will be transmitted. You can however, for all practical purposes use a female condom. And can avoid fluid contact.
I can clarify an doubts that you might possess.
Thanks,
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you for your reply. I am surprised to hear your emphasis on transmission through fluid. I was told, and have read, that HSV can be transmitted through fluids but not BY fluids, in the way that HIV is. I was told by an "expert" on a herpes hotline that there must be DIRECT mucous membrane-to-mucous-membrane contact: That is why it is a myth that herpes can be transmitted on inanimate objects. So if a man with an active herpes outbreak in his urethra urinated on a toilet seat, another person could NOT be infected by that by sitting on that seat. Another example, I was told that if one woman wore another woman's underwear, herpes CANNOT be transmitted that way, even if there are bodily fluids on the panties. I was told this is true because herpes cannot survive in bodily fluids. IN fact, I was told that herpes cannot survive outside the body (the nerve cells) for more than 10 seconds, maybe longer in a very warm wet environment. Your response seems to contradict that. Can you please clarify? I am not trying to be argumentative, I am simply frustrated because I very much want to give my partner accurate information and keep her safe, but I keep getting conflicting information. Thank you. Also, regardless of gender, can you please tell me how likely it is for a person without symptoms to transfer HSV1 through oral sex to another person's genitals, especially if she is on suppressive therapy? Thank you so much for your patience.
Brief Answer:
How to get what you want. A pragmatic and practical solution.
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
I appreciate your perceptiveness.
You might wish to perform oral sex, for instance and other sex activities without protection as that diminishes the bond between you two.
You are absolutely right in stating that you have been very compliant with medication, which is a good thing to do and is rather selfless on your behalf.
You wish to keep your partner safe. This shows character.
However, I understand that protection can ruin an erotic moment. Though protection should be used. Still, we know that a female condom is the ultimate protection. However it degrades the aesthetics of erotic feelings. This is because it looks rather unappealing. It *is* erotically unappealing and can be a major turn off for most people.
I understand.
Kindly give your partner antivirals in prophylactic, meaning preventive doses.
Let me explain with a real life example. Tuberculosis is a serious infection of the lungs. People can catch it, and can even die of it. However, doctors, who need to continually examine TB patients in a hospital are at high risk. Thus, Doctors and RN's take a low dose of an anti TB drug. This ensures that despite continual high risk exposure to a disease like TB, which you can catch merely if an infected patient so much as coughs at you, we doctors and nurses never ever get infected.
We have to be practical now.
We have to compute the exact dose and type of antiviral to administer your partner. Kindly visit a doctor who is an MD in "Infectious diseases" and not any other specialist. Then, weigh your partner, since the body weight and certain other tests are important to calculate the right dose of the right medication.
This way,
1. Your partner is protected.
2. The natural sexual emotional response is preserved.
3. The bond is strengthened.
4. All win in such a situation.
You kindly mention about a matter of transmission rates between HSV subtypes.
These are mere statistical semantics. It is a rather woolly way of approaching your
problem because no matter how informed you are, everything is just... probable.
I kindly request you to write back to me as regards your opinions on this way of doing things.
Solutions are better than speculations.
This is nothing to take away from anyone - opinions, facts or otherwise.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
P.S. I know I am absolutely right because it is a fact that many sexual lubricant and protection products do contain such agents.
How to get what you want. A pragmatic and practical solution.
Detailed Answer:
Hi!
I appreciate your perceptiveness.
You might wish to perform oral sex, for instance and other sex activities without protection as that diminishes the bond between you two.
You are absolutely right in stating that you have been very compliant with medication, which is a good thing to do and is rather selfless on your behalf.
You wish to keep your partner safe. This shows character.
However, I understand that protection can ruin an erotic moment. Though protection should be used. Still, we know that a female condom is the ultimate protection. However it degrades the aesthetics of erotic feelings. This is because it looks rather unappealing. It *is* erotically unappealing and can be a major turn off for most people.
I understand.
Kindly give your partner antivirals in prophylactic, meaning preventive doses.
Let me explain with a real life example. Tuberculosis is a serious infection of the lungs. People can catch it, and can even die of it. However, doctors, who need to continually examine TB patients in a hospital are at high risk. Thus, Doctors and RN's take a low dose of an anti TB drug. This ensures that despite continual high risk exposure to a disease like TB, which you can catch merely if an infected patient so much as coughs at you, we doctors and nurses never ever get infected.
We have to be practical now.
We have to compute the exact dose and type of antiviral to administer your partner. Kindly visit a doctor who is an MD in "Infectious diseases" and not any other specialist. Then, weigh your partner, since the body weight and certain other tests are important to calculate the right dose of the right medication.
This way,
1. Your partner is protected.
2. The natural sexual emotional response is preserved.
3. The bond is strengthened.
4. All win in such a situation.
You kindly mention about a matter of transmission rates between HSV subtypes.
These are mere statistical semantics. It is a rather woolly way of approaching your
problem because no matter how informed you are, everything is just... probable.
I kindly request you to write back to me as regards your opinions on this way of doing things.
Solutions are better than speculations.
This is nothing to take away from anyone - opinions, facts or otherwise.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
P.S. I know I am absolutely right because it is a fact that many sexual lubricant and protection products do contain such agents.
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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