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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Unprotected Sex Safe If Suffering From Genital Herpes?

Hi, I was wondering if you could help with a little query?

I am a female genital herpes sufferer ... I have recently met a new boyfriend, I am very careful at all times and know exactly when a break out is ! Last night I had to be truthful with him as I had a bad breakout... He took the news very well, then told me he was sufferer too ! we had unprotected sex ! will this cause any problems for either of us? we are both sufferers although his outbreaks are not as frequent as mine, I am hoping this doesnt cause him any problems?

Thanks for any info

Mel faulkner
Tue, 13 Jan 2015
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic

I would suggest you to always have protected sex even though both of you have genital herpes.
It is a possibility that you may be having infection with a different Hsv type than what your boyfriend has.
There are two types of Hsv (type 1 Hsv and type 2 Hsv) and either type may cause genital herpes. Therefore it is a possibility that both of you have different Hsv types.
Infection with one herpes type does not confer immunity to against a different type of Hsv infection.
Therefore unprotected sex may cause a flare up of an active episode of herpes in either or both of you, either because of infection with a different type of Hsv.
Unprotected sex may still cause a flare up of herpes sores even though you both carry the same type of Hsv infection.
Therefore I would suggest you to use a protection always, regardless of Hsv status.

Regards
Always practice safe sex with a condom!
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Is Unprotected Sex Safe If Suffering From Genital Herpes?

Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic I would suggest you to always have protected sex even though both of you have genital herpes. It is a possibility that you may be having infection with a different Hsv type than what your boyfriend has. There are two types of Hsv (type 1 Hsv and type 2 Hsv) and either type may cause genital herpes. Therefore it is a possibility that both of you have different Hsv types. Infection with one herpes type does not confer immunity to against a different type of Hsv infection. Therefore unprotected sex may cause a flare up of an active episode of herpes in either or both of you, either because of infection with a different type of Hsv. Unprotected sex may still cause a flare up of herpes sores even though you both carry the same type of Hsv infection. Therefore I would suggest you to use a protection always, regardless of Hsv status. Regards Always practice safe sex with a condom!