HSV2 Urethra Infection & Fertility

[strangelife]

1. Is it possible to be infected in the urethra by HSV2 and yet not experience pain during urination?

2. Does shedding occur in the urethra? If so during the process of fertilization, what happens when the virus is mixed with semen and comes in contact with the egg? Will there be any transmission of the virus if fertilization is successful and a fetus develops?

3. Does HSV2 affects fertility in males? A recent study seem to suggest so even though most sites say there's no impact on fertlity.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3596154/

[strangelife]

Thanks Grace. :)

[gracefromHHP]

since you both have hsv2, it's a non-issue until the time of delivery. she should discuss with her provider starting herpes antivirals in the pregnancy doses for the last month of pregnancy. if she doesn't have any obvious lesions near the time of delivery, it's less than a 1% risk of transmitting hsv2 to her baby during birth.

as for infertility issues with you, not something very common and even though the study you posted does seem to pinpoint that  sperm counts are lower in hsv2+ men, still shouldn't interfere with you getting her pregnant.  they weren't THAT low to make a huge difference.

best of luck getting your gf pregnant and ask any questions you need to :)

[cowboyjoe]

never mind. found the answer in previous threads.

[cowboyjoe]

"when the virus is active, it is shedding from the area of any actual lesions as well as from the entire anal /genital area"....
--so does that mean that the entire area is potentially infectious/contagious?
makes it sounds like if you have a lesion on your johnson, but you absentmindedly scratch your asymptomatic butt cheek, that you are getting the virus on your hands. can you elaborate? that raises lots of issues about what you can and cant touch during outbreaks.

[strangelife]

Since the entire anal/genital area is infected, does that mean knowing the primary site of infection doesn't serve any useful purpose?

I am asymptomatic and have not experienced any outbreaks that I know of. The only thing I can find that resembles an infection is at the opening of the penis, on the sides of the mucous membrane of the urethra. It has an inflamed appearance with red dots noticeable from time to time. No pain upon urination. Should I take any medication?

[strangelife]

Thanks for answer to the question "Will the antibodies a female with HSV2 be passed onto the baby when she's pregnant? Meaning will the baby have HSV2 antibodies in his blood after birth?"

Am glad to know the fact about a baby's short term protective antibodies. Something new I've learnt from you today. Thanks.

[strangelife]

Hi grace,

Good to hear from you. Thanks lots.

I am a male with HSV2. Asking on behalf of my partner (she's also HSV2 positive) with regards to any precautions we should take when planning for a baby. Am particularly concerned on my part, how does the virus affect my semen and whether there will be any possibility of passing the virus in utero.

[strangelife]

Hi all, apologies I forgot the intro before posting my questions. Am new to the site and am glad to hear from anyone with experience and knowledge.

[gracefromHHP]

when  you are infected with genital herpes, your entire anal/genital area is infected. it's not just one specific area.  when the virus is active, it is shedding from the area of any actual lesions as well as from the entire anal /genital area. in between obvious  lesions, it also sheds periodically from the entire anal/genital area.

hsv2 doesn't affect fertility.

during pregnancy, if a mother was infected with hsv2 prior to pregnancy ( or at the very least, during the 1st trimester ), protective antibodies are transmitted to the baby around 28 weeks of gestation. these are short term antibodies that disappear in a few weeks/months post birth.

do you have hsv2 yourself? are you pregnant?

grace