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Can Herpes Be Contracted Through Protected Sex?

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Posted on Wed, 13 Jan 2016
Question: If someone has a negative herpes culture. Can that person still transmitt the desease?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (7 minutes later)
Not likely. Negative culture means person is not suffering. So if there is no active phase no chance of transmission.

Take care dear.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (2 minutes later)
A person ive been dealing with in the pass just brought to my attention that she has hsv 2. She states that her blood work came up positive but her cultures came up nagetive. I had sex with her with a condom.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (19 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
no sore and condom are factors suggesting no transmission

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for follow up.

She has no sore in genitalia and culture is negative means there is no active infection. Blood antibody test comes positive after person infected once and remains positive for lifetime.

Condom is protective when used properly in most of the sexually transmitted disease.

Both factors - negative culture and condom use - suggest that there is no chance of infection , transmission.

All the best.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (3 hours later)
Do people that are asymptomatic sheeders still have negative cultures?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
yes negative cultures are possible

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Yes asymptomatic hsv infection is very common. And asymptomatic does not mean person is always shedding virus. When sample from asymptomatic person does not contain enough viruses culture reports come negative.

Using condom and taking anti viral medicine valacyclovir are the main approaches to prevent crossinfection.

When person infected once anti body are produced by immune system and they remain in blood for lifetime. So blood test will come positive. For recent infection IgM type of antibody test and PCR technique will be useful.

Hope this answer will help.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)
Should this bump be something i should be worried about in my pubic area. Its just a single bump. And i recall the condom breaking at once with her. Should i even bother going to the doc to get a real screening?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (17 hours later)
Brief Answer:
better to go for screening

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Sorry for delayed response.

Although I can not see bump clearly, history of broken condom and recent bump like lesion suggest that you should consult doctor for screening to be on safer side.
This will help to clear your all doubts.

Take care.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

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

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

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Can Herpes Be Contracted Through Protected Sex?

Not likely. Negative culture means person is not suffering. So if there is no active phase no chance of transmission. Take care dear.