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Is Safe Vaginal And Anal Sex Possible When Diagnosed With Genital Herpes?
Question: is it possible to have safe vaginal,oral, and anal sex with a genital herpes positive partner and if it is possible please describe all of the possible ways
Brief Answer:
not 100% safe
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and I have noted your concern.
It is not 100% safe to have sex with a genital herpes positive partner though having sex with a condom and during an asymtpomatic phase carries less chances of transmission as compared to having sex during a clinical episode of genital herpes which is an absolute No for sex. Moreover, if the sexual partner is on regular oral antiviral e.g valacyclovir, it would reduce the risk further as it would prevent viral replication and transmission.
A condom offers partial protection as it does not completely prevent skin to skin contact during sexual intercourse. A condom covers only part of penis and leaves base of penis and adjacent pubic region exposed for skin to skin contact and therefore risk of transmission.
However, a "Scrotal Shield" which covers entire genital area is available for safer sex. You can order it online.
Regards
not 100% safe
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and I have noted your concern.
It is not 100% safe to have sex with a genital herpes positive partner though having sex with a condom and during an asymtpomatic phase carries less chances of transmission as compared to having sex during a clinical episode of genital herpes which is an absolute No for sex. Moreover, if the sexual partner is on regular oral antiviral e.g valacyclovir, it would reduce the risk further as it would prevent viral replication and transmission.
A condom offers partial protection as it does not completely prevent skin to skin contact during sexual intercourse. A condom covers only part of penis and leaves base of penis and adjacent pubic region exposed for skin to skin contact and therefore risk of transmission.
However, a "Scrotal Shield" which covers entire genital area is available for safer sex. You can order it online.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
I have not had relations with my partner yet. She as told me that she has take a daily pill for years and has had no flare ups. Does this indicate that the herpes has disappeared. I have read that it can disappear from one's body. I don't know if this accurate. Is it? She has told me that she has had safe intercourse while on her medication. She has said she has also performed safe oral sex but has not been given oral sex because of her concern about a partner's chance of herpes on his face. Anal sex has not been an area of discussion. Kindly respond.
Brief Answer:
Not entirely safe
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Herpes virus never leaves body once it has established itself inside body. It may reactivate from time to time and travel down the nerve to produce clinical lesions. As I also mentioned daily oral valacyclovir is an effective measure of preventing clinical recurrences of genital herpes. It also reduces risk of sexual transmission of herpes virus during intercourse by interfering with the multiplication of virus and thus viral shedding from genital mucosa. Valacyclovir is not a 100% effective in preventing transmission of herpes, though the exact risk of transmission while on valacyclovir has not been measured. An intercourse with an infected partner is never completely 'Safe' even if that partner is on daily antiviral pill. Though it is safer as compared to having sex with an infected partner who is not on any pill. This applies to both vaginal and anal sex.
One more factor that influences transmission of virus/ infectivity is how old the infection is? The chances of transmission are less from a person who has had herpes for years without any clinical episodes as compared to the infectivity of a person who only recently acquired herpes infection.
Considering all these I would say that the chances of you getting infected from her are minimal but being a doctor I would not encourage any of many patients to willing have sex with an infected partner.
Regards
Not entirely safe
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Herpes virus never leaves body once it has established itself inside body. It may reactivate from time to time and travel down the nerve to produce clinical lesions. As I also mentioned daily oral valacyclovir is an effective measure of preventing clinical recurrences of genital herpes. It also reduces risk of sexual transmission of herpes virus during intercourse by interfering with the multiplication of virus and thus viral shedding from genital mucosa. Valacyclovir is not a 100% effective in preventing transmission of herpes, though the exact risk of transmission while on valacyclovir has not been measured. An intercourse with an infected partner is never completely 'Safe' even if that partner is on daily antiviral pill. Though it is safer as compared to having sex with an infected partner who is not on any pill. This applies to both vaginal and anal sex.
One more factor that influences transmission of virus/ infectivity is how old the infection is? The chances of transmission are less from a person who has had herpes for years without any clinical episodes as compared to the infectivity of a person who only recently acquired herpes infection.
Considering all these I would say that the chances of you getting infected from her are minimal but being a doctor I would not encourage any of many patients to willing have sex with an infected partner.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My female partner contracted genital herpes decades ago. She has consistently been on a daily antiviral pill since then and has had no flare-ups or lesions. Is there a preventative medication that I can take to reduce my risk of contraction? Is genital herpes contracted through contact with bodily fluids from the vagina and the anus only? Can I receive oral sexual contact safely from my partner? Can we safely perform sexual hand contact with each other? My desire is to be with this special person exclusively for the rest of our lives. Please help me find my comfort zone to enhance the deep mental commitment that we can share with a physical commitment as well by providing us with specific guide lines to minimize my chances of contracting genital herpes.
My girlfriend has genital herpes contracted decades ago. Since that
event she takes an antiviral pill daily. She has had no flare-ups or
lesions in all that time. Is there any risk of my contraction from mouth
to mouth kissing?
Is the only conduit for contraction contact with vagina, anus, or in the
case of a male, penis?
My girlfriend has genital herpes contracted decades ago. Since that
event she takes an antiviral pill daily. She has had no flare-ups or
lesions in all that time. Is there any risk of my contraction from mouth
to mouth kissing?
Is the only conduit for contraction contact with vagina, anus, or in the
case of a male, penis?
Brief Answer:
Regarding genital herpes
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Her genital herpes can only be transmitted if you engage in vaginal or anal sex with her or you do an oral on her There is no risk if she performs oral sex on you and no risk with kissing.
As i said, old infection is less transmitable as compared to a newly acquired one. Suppressive therapy with daily oral valacyclovir also greatly reduces chances of transmission and is currently the recommended preventive measure in sexually active couples with only one infected partner though it is not recommended to take valacyclovir as a preventive measure by the uninfected partner. It should be only taken by the infected partner.
A condom would reduce the chances further.
So all in all even if you engage in protected vaginal, anal and unprotected receptive oral sex the chances are that you would be ok provided she is on regular antiviral pills i.e valacyclovir 500 mg. Kissing is absolutely safe. Performing unprotected oral sex on her would be a little more risky though.
Regarding genital herpes
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Her genital herpes can only be transmitted if you engage in vaginal or anal sex with her or you do an oral on her There is no risk if she performs oral sex on you and no risk with kissing.
As i said, old infection is less transmitable as compared to a newly acquired one. Suppressive therapy with daily oral valacyclovir also greatly reduces chances of transmission and is currently the recommended preventive measure in sexually active couples with only one infected partner though it is not recommended to take valacyclovir as a preventive measure by the uninfected partner. It should be only taken by the infected partner.
A condom would reduce the chances further.
So all in all even if you engage in protected vaginal, anal and unprotected receptive oral sex the chances are that you would be ok provided she is on regular antiviral pills i.e valacyclovir 500 mg. Kissing is absolutely safe. Performing unprotected oral sex on her would be a little more risky though.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My girl friend has genital herpes. She contracted decades ago. Se has since then had no flare-ups and no lesions since then .She had taken an antiviral pill during a more recent intimate relationship and there was no impact to either party. When that relationship terminated she withdrew from the medication. She will now resume the antiviral pill prior to intimacy in our relationship. How long should she be on the pill prior to intimacy for the full benefit of the pill to be achieved? In the absence of the herpes visible presence does tongue kissing provide risk to the un contracted partner? Does oral contact from the infected female partner to the un contracted male partner provide risk if the female is taking antiviral meds?
Brief Answer:
Regarding genital herpes
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
If she is on an antiviral pill at least a week prior to initiating sexual contact and throughout the sexual relationship, that would be considered protective.
Oro-labial herpes can be transmitted through kissing, Not genital herpes (you told your partner has genital herpes). Therefore tongue kissing is absolutely safe with her.
If she performs oral sex sex on you, it is absolutely safe because she has genital herpes, Not oro-labial herpes
Regars
Regarding genital herpes
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
If she is on an antiviral pill at least a week prior to initiating sexual contact and throughout the sexual relationship, that would be considered protective.
Oro-labial herpes can be transmitted through kissing, Not genital herpes (you told your partner has genital herpes). Therefore tongue kissing is absolutely safe with her.
If she performs oral sex sex on you, it is absolutely safe because she has genital herpes, Not oro-labial herpes
Regars
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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