[Question #11866] Hsv 2

11 months ago

I previously asked a question (#11760) regarding a syphilis exposure. If you could go back and read the details In my questions this would give needed information. My question now regarding the same situation is : how likely am I to contact Genital HSV 2 from this encounter if I used a condom and there were no sores or lesions present on the female and it lasted less then 3 minutes ? Would being hsv 1 positive orally suppress hsv 2 symptoms ?

Since it has been over a month and I’ve personally had no sores or lesions how safe is it to say I am in the clear ? Dr HHH has said this is a very low risk situation and I trust his words. I just think I need more enlightening on this whole thing. I will try to be precise with my question following this one so nothing is left unclear ! And can I also have a run down of what the symptoms actually would be with genital hsv 2 ?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

11 months ago

In established couples, having sex about twice a week for a year, not using condoms and not taking antiviral medication, with no lesions present, about four men out of 100 acquired HSV 2. So you can see that the risk is quite low with a single exposure. Condoms reduce transmission from women to men by 65%.

People who have HSV 1 and acquire HSV 2 are less likely to be symptomatic or have symptoms that are greatly reduced in severity.

I would agree with Dr. Handsfield that this is a very low risk situation.

People who have symptoms with HSV 2 have sores in the genitals most often and in men, usually on the shaft of the penis or around the anus.

Testing is a big problem for HSV 2 right now. There are high rates of false positives on the IgG test and there can be some cross reactivity when someone has HSV 1 into the HSV 2 test result. So if this worry is still hanging around for you, consider doing the gold standard test, the herpes western blot rather than the IgG test. Or you could start with the IgG test and if positive, confirm with the blot.

Hope this helps

Terri Warren

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11 months ago

Do you believe in this encounter I would develop sores on my penis or pubic area before the anus ? I am having some itchiness around my anal area despite not having even touched there during this exposure. I did take a igg blood test a week after exposure (I know it was too early to tell) but it came back negative. I’m going to test again today , and if it comes back negative then that is all the reassurance I need ! I can definitely say this has made me hyper aware of things that are happening. Also there being no lesions or sores after a month has made me feel better , but I’m just still worried.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

11 months ago

Yes, the sores would be far more likely to appear on the shaft of the penis if there was no anal exposure.

The IgG test is most accurate about 10 weeks out from a concerning encounter. By six weeks out, 70% of those who will be positive ARE positive.

Terri

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