What are the chances of getting a genital herpes outbreak when you've never had an outbreak but you have it?

Question

I have had genital herpes for 18 years. I was first diagnosed when I got pregnant with my first/only child. I've had breakouts over the years and started taking acyclovir periodically. My menstrual cycle stopped 6 years ago and it seemed the outbeaks did as well. I married 5 years ago and my husband and I watched for signs of outbreaks and we had sex protected and unprotected. We thought everything was fine because he never had an outbreak. We refrained from him giving me oral sex but I did give it to him. A month ago he had a blood test and the disease is in his system. If we both take acyclovir will the chance of getting an outbreak decrease? Since he already has it in his system should we still use a condom all the time? Does it matter now? Can it get worse because we both have it in our system?

Answer 1

I am in the same situation as you are. My fiance and I both have genital herpes. I have had herpes for about 5 years and he has only had it about 8 months.

Taking acyclovir helps suppress the virus and once you have an outbreak it helps get rid of it. It does not lessen the chance of you or him from getting a breakout though. You will still get outbreaks even if you are taking the medication. Also, the longer you have the virus the less outbreaks you will get. I haven't had one in a year and a half and I don't take the medication either. I only take it when I am having an outbreak or feel one coming on.

As for condom use, as long as you are faithful to each other it really doesn't matter now. Since you both have the virus, it's not like you are going to reinfect each other. You could if it was a different STD, but with herpes there is no cure, so there is no way to get rid of it or reinfect each other. Herpes will not get worse if you have sex without a condom. If however one of you are having an outbreak it is a good idea to not have sex until it has cleared up. This can cause the other one to have a breakout.

Answer 2

First of all, if you have had genital herpes for this long, someone (a physician, hopefully) should have told you that only in rare instances is this really a disease of any problem. (In the immune suppressed organ transplant individual, for example). The really bad part of this disease is to a pregnant female about to deliver, and is having an outbreak -- transmission of this virus to the child results in severe neurological disorders. Frankly, it's just no big deal in a non-reporducing couple even if they both get it and have it. Zovirax and Acyclovir come in creams that lessens the sting of the sores -- think of herpes as a cold sore around your bottom.... annoying but not serious. And the outbreaks tend to get less as you age. Magazines and the press were making a big deal of this disease years ago that has been around for eons, and then suddenly when AIDS hit the screen no one heard much about genital herpes. Keep in mind that American drug companies just LOVE to sell drugs, and worry about the consequences later (Vioxx is a prime example). All meds have consequences either on the liver or kidney, so limit your intake of meds to the bare minimum if you hope to keep those organs operational well into your senior years. The use of topical meds is far safer (Look how they sell Lamisil for toenail fungus, when perfectly good topical ones work in the same amount of time without possible liver/kidney damage.....) {Americans have been sold a bill of goods -- here take this pill once a day, and it will cure you of anything.....} It can't get any worse, you either carry the virus or you don't. Herpes simplex 1 is the one for cold sores of the mouth, and Herpes simplex 2 is of the genital area, but these viruses can each be in both places. You don't need to use a condom if you are hoping to protect each other -- since you both have it. It is just sometimes more comfortable to refrain from sex for the 7-10 days when you are having an outbreak. Chicken pox is also a herpes virus -- it is the most contageous disease in the world. And once you have that virus you are never rid of it any more than you are ever rid of genital herpes. Usually people get chicken pox only once. But it recurrs as shingles in the aged adult, interestingly. And more interestingly, Shingles is relatively rare among teachers who taught many years around young children (the pool of chicken pox). Apparently the immune system is reminded often enough that outbreaks of shingles is rare among that population. So, can it get worse, no.... Helpful???

Answer 3

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Answer 4

First..if you are both in a faithful relationship and there are no outside affairs then I would not stress about using condoms..as far as taking Acyclovir.that keeps outbreaks down but as you know there is no cure for Herpes II..There are actually support groups of folks who are in relationships that have Herpes..one of my friends met her husband through this group and married and are faithful and have no problems..It's tough..as a nurse I see Herpes outbreaks all the time..the virus is so small and you can pass the virus to someone else without actually having the outbreak with the sores..so someone may have been exposed and not be aware until they have the outbreak..It's a tough disease to have but with the new meds it cuts down on the number of outbreaks you have..I won't get worse especially since you are in medications.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I only take meds when I have an outbreak, I've had herpes for 4 years now. I may breakout once a year. first outbreak was the worste., I'm sure you know that outbreaks are usually brought on by stress.

Answer 7

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Not only was I able to remove all remnants of the hsv from my body in less than 21 days, but I was also able to start dating again. I even met the guy of my dreams and I'm so blessed to write that just last week, in front of everyone in a crowded restaurant, he got down on one knee and proposed to me! This program gave me back the chance to be happy and experience true love again. Now I hope that I can help others by sharing this story.

Answer 8

It matters. You should still use condoms when either of you is having a break out. Herpes can be spread without sign of break-out. Keep taking the meds and yes I would use condoms

Answer 9

Very good I may say