[Question #2398] hsv2 - longtime partner immunity
43 months ago
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I have just learned my secondary male partner has HSV-2 and has had it for 25 years. He and I have been engaging in regular sexual encounters for about 2.5 years. Our relationship is kinky and our intercourse is extended and rough, and consists of vaginal, oral, and anal sex. We did, due to my ignorance of his HSV2 status, engage in condomless sex on many occasions during the last year, including once when he had (undisclosed to me at the time) prodromal symptoms.
We don’t usually spend time with each other outside of our sexual encounters and we don’t live together. My primary partner and I are both HSV2 negative (recent IGG testing 15 weeks after my last sexual encounter with my secondary partner) and would like to remain this way. I do have antibodies for HSV1 but, to my knowledge, have not had cold sores or other symptoms as an adult.
My secondary partner, since disclosing his status to me, has told me that he rarely gets outbreaks anymore and each outbreak is preceded by prodromal symptoms. He does get prodromal symptoms WITHOUT outbreaks.
A prior answer suggested that the non-infected partner may develop immunity after a time. How does this work? Where can I learn more about this as this is not something I have seen in any of the medical literature I have scoured for information? Is this immunity only from close and extended contact? Or just from frequent sexual encounters? Should I read into anything from the fact that I have managed to stay HSV2 negative for this long?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
43 months ago
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Are you thinking of starting to have sex unprotected with him again? Please don't relay upon protection that we have discussed here as a solution. If you both don't want to use condoms, then I would at a minimum suggest that he take daily antiviral therapy to reduce the risk of infecting you. This is, of course, your call, but I am responding to your statement that you and your primary sex partner would like to stay negative for HSV 2.
Terri
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43 months ago
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
43 months ago
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The medicine takes five days daily to reach peak effectiveness. Valacyclovir can be taken once daily - acyclovir twice daily, but way cheaper.
Terri
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43 months ago
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Thanks for pointing out that the valacyclovir is more expensive, even though a once a day preventative treatment.
As I understand it, the primary mechanism of genital to genital transmission of HSV2 is from skin to skin. Specifically thin skin to thin skin (questions 1570, 383 and 2144 ). It sounded like the balls are not infectious but the penile shaft is. Where is the skin thin enough on a woman to allow virus transmission? A landing strip zone? The entire vulva? Any of the inner thighs? Parts of the buttocks? Is there a diagram that could help me get the lay of the land where transmission is most likely? I would like to know where penis shaft to my skin should not be in contact! Is cum or pre-cum infectious? We typically engage in some very rough sex. Would cuts or breaks in the skin around the thighs or buttocks provide a means for virus transmission? What about bruised skin or reddened skin? Would merely irritated skin provide for easier transmission through, for example, the buttocks?
Thanks for providing your expertise through this forum and for allowing these follow ups.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
43 months ago
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This is your final post - if you have more questions, feel free to renew
Terri
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