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Is Genital Herpes Transmitted Through Unprotected Sex?

Posted on Mon, 5 Dec 2016

Question: End of May 2016 i was diagnosed with genital Herpes. Initial outbreak occured in my buttocks after 4 to 8 weeks of feeling flu like symptoms. I went to a local dermatologist who told me it looked like genital herpes. He made some prelevment to put a name on his diagnosis and lab results were negativ, twice.

After the initial outbreak he prescribed me 5 days of Valtrex(Valaciclovir) twice 500mg a day. It went away but 1 week after it came back again in my buttocks. Again he prescribed me 5 days of Valtrex twice 500mg a day, it went away but came back after 1 week. After the 3rd time of 5 days treatment it came back in my buttocks. So now im taking 500mg a day of Valaciclovir for 1 year. Im taking it since 4 months on a daily basis.

My concern is the following, I have a sexual partner and have always insisted on using condom with her. She's always insisting on having sex without condoms. One day we were in bed an we had an unprotected sex. It happened and i didn't told her that i have this virus. Since 1 month we have now unprotected sex. Im feeling guilty and bad now because i don't know how to approach the situation now. I also read on herpes website that there's small risk of spreading the virus if i'm taking valtrex and my outbreaks are located in my buttocks not near my genitals regions. What are the risks of spreading the virus if there is no outbreaks and that im taking valtrex, and that the outbreaks are in my buttocks ?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Sexual transmission is unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and I have noted your concern

Of course the viral shedding occurs from the region of involvement with clinical lesions of herpes and more at the time of appearance of clinical lesions than at other times. In my view if your clinical episodes are away from the genitals then there is no risk of sexual transmission if this area does not comes into direct contact with partner. Moreover valtrex lowers the chances of clinical lesions as well as asymptomatic viral shedding.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (29 minutes later)

Hello Doctor thanks for your answer. But i am a little bit disappointed by your answer... This is a very short answer i was expecting a more detailed one.

I opted for the answer of a specialist and thus payed twice more for having the answer of a specialist.
I consulted 2 local doctors and every doctors is giving a different answer about my herpes problem. One is telling me it's better to use condom because there's (small) risk via viral shedding and you are telling me that there's no risk. Does it mean that i can continue to have unprotected sex if i am taking valtrex ?

Can i have another doctor review my question and validate your answer that there is no risk ?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (24 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Details below

Detailed Answer:
Hi

I apologize for a short answer. Unless you start developing clinical lesions on genitals the likelihood of sexual transmission does not exist. More so if you are regularly taking valtrex. On account of common nerve supply between buttock and penis there is a possibility that the virus may track down the nerve to produce clinical lesions on genitals but this progression is unlikely to happen as long as you are on valtrex which inhibits viral replication and subsequent travel down the nerve. Hence in my view there is no risk of transmission if there are no clinical lesions on genitals and at least as long as you are on valtrex.

Regards

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar