Herpes and IBD

[sabinepk]

I recently met my partner and he informed me (prior to any intimacy) that he has herpes. He isn's sure if it's HSV-1 or HSV-2.

I have Ulcerative Colitis. My symptoms are very well controlled and I am not on immunosuppressive therapy. I have had two moderately severe flare-ups in 18 years with a few moderate flare-ups. During moderate/sever flare-ups I took prednisone orally, in foam suppository as well as mesalamine orally and through suppository. In moderate flare-ups mesalamine orally w/ mesalamine suppositories.

My question is - beyond the general risk that HSV presents - how additionally risky is this for me?  It is a possibility that at some point I will have a flare-up that will require immonusuppressive therapy.  If I was to contract HSV could my UC symptoms become more severe? How likely is it that I could develop the other HSV complications listed i.e., liver involvement etc...

Any light you could shed on this would be great!

Thanks!

[sabinepk]

Thanks!!!

[gracefromHHP]

First thing I recommend is your partner getting a type specific herpes igg blood test and you getting one too. once you both know who has what you can better assess your risk.

Is your partner on daily suppressive therapy or not?

You contracting hsv genitally isn't really a risk even though you are sometimes on steroids.  You can keep your risk of acquiring herpes really, really low too.

grace