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possible transmission?
Hi! I hope someone can help. I had protected sex last night with a guy I like. I was diagnosed a year ago with HSV2....ive never had an outbreak or anything i just found out through my normal yearly check ups. My number is 1.39 using an IGg test 4th generation...ive been told thats not very high and that theres a high chance i dont actually have herpes...but ive also been told it can just lay dormant so im not really sure. With that being said I'm not on meds or anything because i was told meds are only necessary if theres an outbreak. Anyways even though we used a condom there was still skin to skin contact because during sexual intercourse ya know your bodies and stuff are rubbing up against each other. Also he'd have his hands in my genitals then touch his....so im not sure if thats a big deal either. Basically my question is...is there a high risk that i gave him possible herpes in this situation?
My thoughts on your situation:
1. That is a very low positive and without ever having symptoms, I would be a little suspicious of those results and would get the Western Blot test from the University of Washington performed as a confirmatory test.
2. Does your partner know that you might be hsv2 positive? If not, I must urge you to tell any and all future partners about your situation. It is very unfair to them to not be informed. You have an ethical and moral obligation to inform all partners.
3. Condoms are very effective at preventing the transmission of genital herpes. Not 100% effective, but for any single encounter if the condom is used properly and does not break, it is probably 90% effective. So, if you assume there is a 1 in 1,000 chance on average of transmission occurring for a given single unprotected event, then there is about a 1 in 10,000 chance of transmission occurring during a protected encounter.
Now, transmission certainly occurs with hsv2 discordant couples after repeated and numerous episodes of sex. Why? Well, obviously there is repeated exposure, but probably more important is that even when couples report using condoms, it's probably likely that they don't use them consistently and effectively.
4. Herpes is consider a skin to skin transmitted std, but it is not that simple. The virus needs to be vigorously massaged into skin, which is susceptible to transmission. Thus, most or almost all initial herpes symptoms, i.e. blisters, sores lesions, etc appear on the shaft or head of the penis and in women appear on the labia minora or the cervix.
5. The virus is very fragile once exposed outside the human body. It remains viable for only seconds. So this is why mutual masturbation, even when bodily fluids are involved, rarely if ever leads to transmission. Std clinicians will tell you that in all their years they have never seen a case of transmission resulting from mutual masturbation.
6. Congratulations on using condoms. Outside of not having sex, condoms are the single most effective way for reducing transmission of all stds. If used properly, the likely hood of catching most stds is almost zero.
1. That is a very low positive and without ever having symptoms, I would be a little suspicious of those results and would get the Western Blot test from the University of Washington performed as a confirmatory test.
2. Does your partner know that you might be hsv2 positive? If not, I must urge you to tell any and all future partners about your situation. It is very unfair to them to not be informed. You have an ethical and moral obligation to inform all partners.
3. Condoms are very effective at preventing the transmission of genital herpes. Not 100% effective, but for any single encounter if the condom is used properly and does not break, it is probably 90% effective. So, if you assume there is a 1 in 1,000 chance on average of transmission occurring for a given single unprotected event, then there is about a 1 in 10,000 chance of transmission occurring during a protected encounter.
Now, transmission certainly occurs with hsv2 discordant couples after repeated and numerous episodes of sex. Why? Well, obviously there is repeated exposure, but probably more important is that even when couples report using condoms, it's probably likely that they don't use them consistently and effectively.
4. Herpes is consider a skin to skin transmitted std, but it is not that simple. The virus needs to be vigorously massaged into skin, which is susceptible to transmission. Thus, most or almost all initial herpes symptoms, i.e. blisters, sores lesions, etc appear on the shaft or head of the penis and in women appear on the labia minora or the cervix.
5. The virus is very fragile once exposed outside the human body. It remains viable for only seconds. So this is why mutual masturbation, even when bodily fluids are involved, rarely if ever leads to transmission. Std clinicians will tell you that in all their years they have never seen a case of transmission resulting from mutual masturbation.
6. Congratulations on using condoms. Outside of not having sex, condoms are the single most effective way for reducing transmission of all stds. If used properly, the likely hood of catching most stds is almost zero.
4 Comments
Hi! Thanks so much for your help! regarding my friction question during penetration/thrusting and what not isn't that considered like vigorous skin to skin contact? also while we were doing foreplay and what not if his pens touched my genitals is that a super high risk? with shedding and all? I just have no idea and appreciate any advice/answers. thanks so much!
also when do symptoms of herpes usually show? ive been told if one were to contract the virus usually symptoms would show around 2-5 days after but ive also heard it can just lay dormant in peoples bodies for years (is that always likely?)
theres also viral shedding...which cannont be seen so if I were shedding and we had skin to skin contact is there a high chance he couldve contracted something?
A penis must be inserted in an anus, a mouth or a vagina, along with vigorous rubbing and friction before transmission is likely. That is why hsv is categorized as a "SEXUALLY" transmitted disease and not a casually-contacted transmitted disease.
Most people who are going to show symptoms will do so withing 2-6 days. Some may take up to 10, uncommon up to 14 and very rarely up to 21 days.
Some people are asymptomatic and don't have initial symptoms. How common is this? I don't think the data is really clear on this. I think most people if they are aware or worried that they may have been exposed to hsv will be on the lookout for symptoms and if they appear, they will be obvious.
Most people who are going to show symptoms will do so withing 2-6 days. Some may take up to 10, uncommon up to 14 and very rarely up to 21 days.
Some people are asymptomatic and don't have initial symptoms. How common is this? I don't think the data is really clear on this. I think most people if they are aware or worried that they may have been exposed to hsv will be on the lookout for symptoms and if they appear, they will be obvious.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
