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my partner has genital herpes. i do not. if she doesnt ...

Sent to Health Experts June 19 2006 at 11:57 AM
   

my partner has genital herpes. i do not. if she doesnt have any active sores, what is the chance that i could still get herpes. also, if she gives me oral sex is there a chance that i could get herpes from her through her spit? (assuming that she doesnt have any active sore in her mouth)

 

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Male , Age: 25

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June 19 2006 at 12:04 PM (6 minutes and 24 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark

It is possible to transmit genital herpes even if the person is not actually suffering from lesions or blisters.

In terms of oral sex, I recommend use of a flavoured condom just in case there were oral ulcers. The chance of herpes being passed on via saliva is quite low but I do not want to make any 100% guarantees. Also herpes can be passed on through intimate skin to skin contact without actual sexual intercourse.

Does this answer your question?



Edited by plaw123 on June 19 2006 at 12:09 PM

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Pauline -- Pharmacist -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3607 Health Accepts
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June 19 2006 at 12:23 PM (19 minutes and 13 seconds later)
         
Reply to Pauline's Post: so if she has absolutely no open sores or lesions, i should be ok. as far as actually having sex, a condom should keep me safe right? If her mouth has no lesions or blisters or sores, is the use of a condom really neccesary?
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June 19 2006 at 12:34 PM (11 minutes and 12 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark

If the herpes virus is limited to the genital area, then in theory it will not be passed on during oral sex, so the condom would not be necessary.

The difficulty is that a person could have a disease without symptoms, eg a cold sore is contagious in its early stages before a blister appears. Cold sores are HSV 1 and are present in about 70% of population, these could cause HSV1 blisters in any area including genital.

So the chances of genital herpes HSV2 being passed on to you via oral sex is slim, but there are other lesions which could occur.

So a condom will offer protection from HSV1.

We try to play safe with advice, in order to reduce the amount of these viruses being passed on, but at the end of the day you need to consider whether the risk is important to you.

Regards



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Pauline -- Pharmacist -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3607 Health Accepts
MRPharmS. Worked as Community pharmacist for 15 years. Undertaking a second degree in medicine.
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June 19 2006 at 1:01 PM (26 minutes and 41 seconds later)
         
Reply to Pauline's Post: ok sorry, one last question. i understand the oral sex part. if a condom were used during sex, how safe am i if she has absolutely no lesions or sores, and how safe am i if she does have them?
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Answer
June 19 2006 at 1:08 PM (7 minutes and 7 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

Using a condom does not prevent genital herpes as the infection could be outside the area covered by the condom eg you could pick up herpes in the groin area from skin to skin contact. If she has active lesions, then it is extremely likely you will develop herpes. If she has no lesions, then the risk is smaller but still substantial as some herpes sufferers can pass on herpes without ever knowing they were infected. Viral 'shedding' can occur in the absence of lesions.

I have looked at a number of information sites and articles, and some of the advice does not reflect the other reports. I would recommend that you consider playing it safe, the advice varies from site to site but the official government websites are concerned with minimising the spread and urge caution.

Does this help? I must go offline now, but I will check in tomorrow to see if you have any more questions.



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Pauline -- Pharmacist -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3607 Health Accepts
MRPharmS. Worked as Community pharmacist for 15 years. Undertaking a second degree in medicine.
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