question for Sparkleflower - Herpes Message Board

kierstyn_04 · 05-23-2005, 08:00 AM

On one of your posts recently you said that hte rate of women to men transmission was like 4% just by avoiding sex durring OB. Where did you learn this and does anyone else have info on the transmission rate for women to men? Curious why it is so much less than men to women transmission. I'd like to read more about this so I am curious where you got your info. My Dr. is very ill informed about this so its not like I can ask her.

sparkleflower · 05-23-2005, 09:31 AM

I got it from a doctor on another board (that I can't post here); it was also confirmed by another infectious disease specialist on yet another board :-) It's higher from men to women because the texture of skin is different. Women have a much greater expanse of mucus membrane (vulva/vagina), which is more permeable than regular skin. The transmission rate from men to women is around 8 - 10%/year, but cut to less than half that with suppressive therapy. I can tell you that the Valtrex study showed that among HSV discordant couples, i.e. one who has herpes and one who doesn't, the overall transmission rate averaged around 5%/year or so without therapy.

kierstyn_04 · 05-23-2005, 10:52 AM

So with supressive therapy your chances are really low! Not to say non existant, but really low. Thank you for responding. I want to look int othis as much as possible. I freak out too much I think, I have it my man doesnt.

youandme · 05-23-2005, 11:22 AM

Yes, I read that study somewhere too. It was done with couples where one was hsv+ and the other hsv-. Transmission was about 5%, when not on supressive therapy and condom use was random as well.

So, if you´re an hsv+ woman, on supressive therpay, use condoms with your partner, avoid sex during ob´s and clear prodomes, you should be quite safe! In my opinion much more safe than in a situation where you have sex with someone not knowing their history, as 90% of the 25% hsv+ people have no clue they have hsv = don´t take supressives, don´t recognize symptoms etc..

Knowledge is power and safety!