Hi I am male and a potential female partner is HSV 2 positive. She has had HSV 2 for 22 years, is on daily suppressive meds and has a breakout once a year at most.  What is the overall risk of getting HSV 2 not using condoms?  Would like to know what the asymptomatic shedding rate would be for her.  Thanks JH

I am assuming that you know that you are HSV 2 negative, yes?  People in newer relationships transmit HSV more often than people in extended relationships, so the data is complicated given these variables.  But with her on suppression and a very long infection duration and only one outbreak a year, the risk is likely quite low.  If you add condoms, that also reduces the risk by 65%.  At the beginning of the relationship, you might want to use condoms AND have her on suppression. The fact that she has disclosed this information also reduces the risk of transmission very significantly.  We can't know her personal shedding rate as this varies greatly between individuals.  ONly daily home swabbing would tell us something about that, but that is over $100 a day so not practical.  But if you do all the things - condoms, suppression, disclosure, avoiding sex with prodromal symptoms or outbreaks, I believe your risk is really very low.---

Hi Terry, yes I am negative for HSV 1 & 2.  I am not going to use condoms, can you put a percentage or say more about what you mean by the "risk is really very low" please?  The same exposure risk for me if I perform oral yes?  Thanks

The risk is less about performing oral sex on her because HSV 2 doesn't like to be oral.---

Hi Terri last question. I think I know the answer but we cannot know how my system would handle hsv2 correct? I mean we cannot know if I would have frequent breakouts or no breakouts or anything in between once I contracted HSV2 and there is no current testing to make that type determination correct?  Thanks again I appreciate your help and this service.  Best JH

You are correct - if you acquire HSV 2, we cannot know what your future with recurrences might be like or even if you will have an outbreak at all when you acquire the infection.  The other thing we know that I forgot to mention to you is that when disclosure has happened in the relationship (which is has in yours) that also cuts transmission risk by 50%.---