Hi. I was diagnosed with hsv2 12 years ago.  I recently had unprotected sex (I'm female) and I'm now afraid I have transferred it to him (even though there were no signs of breakout)because shedding can take place without symptoms. I've had two breakouts in 12 years, both on butt cheeks but also had signs on my hands.  I also don't take daily medication because it has never been that bad.   What are the odds that I have transmitted it to him if I was shedding and  if I was not shedding. Would having a coccygectomy increase the rate of shedding? Thank you

Was this a single encounter with this partner?  If yes, then statistically, the odds are very low that you infected him - well under 1 in 100 chance.  People with more outbreaks shed more - your outbreaks are very infrequent which suggests less than average viral shedding.  If you were not shedding, you didn't transmit to him - you have to be shedding virus either with or without an outbreak to infect another person.  Daily antiviral therapy reduces transmission by almost half compared to no medication.  Unless your surgery was very recent, I do not think it would increase your overall shedding rate, no.  Did this partner know that herpes was in the picture?  He should be observing for symptoms for about 10 days as that is the typical time frame in which people would develop symptoms after infection.

Terri
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Thank you Doctor. No he didn't know herpes was in the picture. It was irresponsible of me and the guilt I've experienced since is my punishment. 

Well, people make mistakes in life and all you can do is do it differently next time. 
Will you be seeing this person again?  If yes, and you want to be sexual with him, you are going to face the difficult task of telling him.  With any luck perhaps he also has herpes and was too scared to tell you too.  It happens.  Yes, if he is infected (which hopefully he isn't) he will show symptoms within 10 days.  Cross your fingers.  I don't know if you would have more shedding with no tailbone - have never heard that discussed before.

Terri
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Terri , I believe I'm allowed one more question.   It looks like I have an outbreak coming. Ive experienced some burning (for couple of days) which I put down to thrush but now my skin feels like it's about to breakout with tingling and swelling, which is a first.  If this is a symptomatic breakout coming then would I have been contagious a week ago?

That's so difficult to say because about half of asymptomatic shedding occurs right around an outbreak (a week on either side) and about half is totally random and sporadic.  So you don't have an outbreak yet, so that's good, more distance from the encounter time-wise.  I'm afraid you are just going to have to wait and see what happens here.  The odds are still on your side

Terri
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