Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Is The Risk Of Contracting Genital Herpes After Unprotected Intercourse?
Question: End of May 2016 i was diagnosed with genital Herpes. Initial outbreak occurred 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 negative, 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 ?
Now i don't know why i contracted Herpes in this area of my body ? I never received anal sex and never had any homosexual sex. My girlfriend cheated on me and left me in August . Is it possible that she had the virus and transmitted it to me ? But in that case the outbreaks should happen in my penis and genitals area ?
Approximately 4 to 6 weeks before this inital outbreak my ex-girlfriend waxed my buttock area with hot wax. I remember that it was hurting and that we applied some sun cream(only cream on our hand at that time) after the wax was finished. This sun cream contains alcool and it really burned my buttocks . Is it possible that i got infected because of this wax that was used on someone before me ? Or the inital outbreak occured in this region because of this waxing episode who hurted and weakened my body in buttock area instead of my penis ?
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 ?
Now i don't know why i contracted Herpes in this area of my body ? I never received anal sex and never had any homosexual sex. My girlfriend cheated on me and left me in August . Is it possible that she had the virus and transmitted it to me ? But in that case the outbreaks should happen in my penis and genitals area ?
Approximately 4 to 6 weeks before this inital outbreak my ex-girlfriend waxed my buttock area with hot wax. I remember that it was hurting and that we applied some sun cream(only cream on our hand at that time) after the wax was finished. This sun cream contains alcool and it really burned my buttocks . Is it possible that i got infected because of this wax that was used on someone before me ? Or the inital outbreak occured in this region because of this waxing episode who hurted and weakened my body in buttock area instead of my penis ?
Brief Answer:
Private Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
1. Your risk of spreading genital herpes to your partner during unprotected sex is very high, >80%, even if there is no active outbreak. You need to tell your partner that you have genital herpes immediately. They need to get tested and may need to take medication immediately.
2. Once herpes has been contracted, it can travel to several different parts of the body. You probably initially contracted in on your genitals, and it has since spread to your buttocks.
3. It is not possible to catch herpes from wax. It must be spread through sexual contact.
Dr. Sheppe
Private Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
1. Your risk of spreading genital herpes to your partner during unprotected sex is very high, >80%, even if there is no active outbreak. You need to tell your partner that you have genital herpes immediately. They need to get tested and may need to take medication immediately.
2. Once herpes has been contracted, it can travel to several different parts of the body. You probably initially contracted in on your genitals, and it has since spread to your buttocks.
3. It is not possible to catch herpes from wax. It must be spread through sexual contact.
Dr. Sheppe
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
