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What Are The Chances Of Transmission Of Herpes Infection?

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Posted on Tue, 3 Mar 2015
Question: I have been advised that i have herpes antibodies in my system. Can i pass this onto my partner by having unprotected sex even though it is just the antobodies?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
yes transmission can occur

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Herpes infection can be one of the most difficult to have because it remains in the system and they can be recurrent outbreaks.

There are different types of antibodies that occur in response to infection.

In the initial acute infection, Ig M antibodies are found ( if these detected, means recently infected)

In the chronic stage, Ig G antibodies are found (if these detected, means it is not a recent infection).

Detection of herpes antibodies is one of the main tests done to see if a person has been infected.

Antibodies to herpes means that you were infected with herpes virus at some point. Once a person has been infected with herpes, it is possible for them to transmit the infection to a partner.
This transmission is more likely when an acute rash has recurred but can sometimes occur when they are no symptoms- this is called asymptomatic transmission of herpes.

The test was just to check for the antibodies (because if present, person has ,at some point, been infected with herpes and the virus is present in the system) , it does not mean the virus was not present.
It is the type of test used, the most common test used.

The herpes virus remains once a person has been infected. The antibodies form once the virus is present and they can be detected.

Summary: (1) herpes virus remains in the system
(2)the test was to detect the antibodies which form once a person has been infected
(3)it can be transmitted when rash is present and also in some instances when there are no symptoms- asymptomatic herpes transmission

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (22 hours later)
Is it common to be transmitted without any symptoms? I have had no symptoms.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
3 to 6 days out of 30

Detailed Answer:
HI

The rate of transmission with no symptoms can vary.

Different medical studies conducted over varied times (1 to 3 months) found that in persons with no symptoms, the virus was shed 10 to 20 % of the days that the persons were tested.
(they were tested daily for the month or more and the virus was shedding 10-20%of the time)

This means in a 30 day period , for example, spread with no symptoms can occur , 3 to 6 days out of this 30 days.

Please feel free to ask anything else
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (6 hours later)
So having the antobodies is not as bad as having actual herpes?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
having antibodies means virus is present

Detailed Answer:
HI


The antibodies mean that you have herpes.

The antibodies are only formed when a person has been infected with herpes. The specific test that was done detects antibodies, it is not a test to pick up the virus itself only to pick up the presence of antibodies.

The detection of the antibodies means that the virus is there.

When we want to find out if a person has herpes virus we do an antibody test.

Herpes is not an infection that goes away completely.

Hope this clears this up for you

If anything else unclear, you can let me know
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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What Are The Chances Of Transmission Of Herpes Infection?

Brief Answer: yes transmission can occur Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Herpes infection can be one of the most difficult to have because it remains in the system and they can be recurrent outbreaks. There are different types of antibodies that occur in response to infection. In the initial acute infection, Ig M antibodies are found ( if these detected, means recently infected) In the chronic stage, Ig G antibodies are found (if these detected, means it is not a recent infection). Detection of herpes antibodies is one of the main tests done to see if a person has been infected. Antibodies to herpes means that you were infected with herpes virus at some point. Once a person has been infected with herpes, it is possible for them to transmit the infection to a partner. This transmission is more likely when an acute rash has recurred but can sometimes occur when they are no symptoms- this is called asymptomatic transmission of herpes. The test was just to check for the antibodies (because if present, person has ,at some point, been infected with herpes and the virus is present in the system) , it does not mean the virus was not present. It is the type of test used, the most common test used. The herpes virus remains once a person has been infected. The antibodies form once the virus is present and they can be detected. Summary: (1) herpes virus remains in the system (2)the test was to detect the antibodies which form once a person has been infected (3)it can be transmitted when rash is present and also in some instances when there are no symptoms- asymptomatic herpes transmission I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions