[Question #8331] Treatment options
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46 months ago
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I am a male and got tested positive for HSV2 with a result of 3.31. I never had any breakouts or sores on the outside, the only discomfort I had was irritation and pain while urinating and that is why I went in for the test in the first place. The doctor did not prescribe any long term medication at that moment as there were no severe symptoms. But now I am seeing someone and we want to be as safe as possible and know our options. My first question would be if I go on medication for it, are there any risks that I will get side effect when and if I decide to stop the treatment?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
46 months ago
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With an index value of 3.31, you need a confirmatory test to know that this is not a false positive result. Have you had any symptoms at all? I know you said you didn't have any severe symptoms but I'm not sure what they meant. The best confirmatory test is the herpes western blot performed only at the University of Washington
If you are indeed positive, and/or if you don't wish to get a confirmatory test, taking daily antiviral medication, 500 mg of Valacyclovir, would reduce transmission to a sex partner. There would be no worry about side effects if you stop taking the medication, but you may well experience an outbreak if you stop. Condoms reduce transmission from males to females by 96% so they will be very useful indeed for you and future partners.
Terri
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46 months ago
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Hello Terri and thank you for your response. When I came in for the tests I only had irritation and pain while urinating but no sores. I was told the sores might be inside and that I need to come back when I have any symptoms again to get checked but it has been over a year and had no symptoms. My 2 follow up questions are: 1. If I go on treatment and later on decide to do the confirmatory test which comes out negative, would the medication have any affect on my since I was taking them without having the actual infection? 2. How safe is receiving oral sex once I am on medication?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
46 months ago
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It depends upon how long ago you had these symptoms. If it has been more than 3 months, I would not be worried about your taking daily antiviral medicine, no. We have no statistics about the transmission of HSV 2 to the mouth during oral sex (and it's a question I get SO OFTEN, so I wish we did). But I think it is uncommon. HSV 2 prefers the genital area for recurrences and viral shedding. I have certainly seen oral HSV 2 infections but in my personal experience, it has almost always been accompanied by a genital infection as well. On the other hand, I think we assume that recurrent cold sores are almost always HSV 1 so we don't often swab test them, much less ask for typing. So we could be missing it.
Terri
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46 months ago
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It has been over 3 months but if I take the medication until I get the test done and I don't actually have it, am I risking my health?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
46 months ago
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heavens no! This is an incredibly safe medicine,which is only activated when you have herpes virus present. Otherwise, you excrete it, unchanged, in your urine. Very safe indeed.
Terri
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