Famciclovir? - Herpes Message Board

kel0603 · 12-02-2007, 06:37 AM

Someone I had a sexual relationship is on this drug- He has genital herpes...and as I stated in my previous post his last outbreak was 6 years ago. In an attempt to try and get me back, he had his doctor put him on this drug. His doctor told him that this pill, taken twice a day, stops the herpes virus from producing in the body and that it is virtually impossible to spread it to me with the use of these drugs, and condoms and avoid sex during an outbreak.

I then called and spoke to HIS doctor and he told me the same thing? He said he can't. for liability purposes say 100%, but he said that the risk of me getting it, IF I chose to be with this man, is slim, very slim.

Does this sound accurate? I ask here because you all seem so knowledgable and want to hear what your experiences have been.

catharine101 · 12-02-2007, 08:13 AM

The drug is a suppressive therapy - meaning that it prevents the virus from being active. Following the same guidelines (using a condom and no sex during breakout), your chances of getting the virus WITHOUT the drug are about 9%/year.

The suppressants certainly reduce that number a lot, although I've never seen any published number (even on the Valtrex site). I'm not sure I'd go along with the doctor in saying "virtually impossible", but definitely they are low. This site is full of people who beat the "virtually impossible" odds and got the virus anyway, but there are also millions out there who didn't.

matter of time · 12-02-2007, 09:08 AM

I read about shedding and basically people who have recurrant OB shed more often than people who don't. Since he hasn't had OB in 6 years and he is on suppressive medication (which he really does not have to be---only for your peace of mind) and you avoid sex during OB...I'd say the chances of you getting it are indeed very slim. Took me 20 years to get it from my husband who didn't have frequent OB's anymore. He never took supressive drugs.

If you are serious about him, you can take the risk. It really isn't the worst thing that can happen to you....most people get used to it with time. It won't affect your fertility or life span. But if you break up and have herpes, then you'll have to deal with telling new partners about it.

Another thing crosses my mind...since he has not had it for years, he may have type 1 genitally and may never get it again at this point. Do you know if he has type 1 or 2? There is a very good chance you have type 1 and don't know it. (80% of the population has the virus, most of it is dormant, just from casual social kissing) If he has type 1,and if you have the antibodies already you don't have to worry about anything...you can't catch it if you already have it. You might want to check that out.

kel0603 · 12-02-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matter of time

I read about shedding and basically people who have recurrant OB shed more often than people who don't. Since he hasn't had OB in 6 years and he is on suppressive medication (which he really does not have to be---only for your peace of mind) and you avoid sex during OB...I'd say the chances of you getting it are indeed very slim. Took me 20 years to get it from my husband who didn't have frequent OB's anymore. He never took supressive drugs.

If you are serious about him, you can take the risk. It really isn't the worst thing that can happen to you....most people get used to it with time. It won't affect your fertility or life span. But if you break up and have herpes, then you'll have to deal with telling new partners about it.

Another thing crosses my mind...since he has not had it for years, he may have type 1 genitally and may never get it again at this point. Do you know if he has type 1 or 2? There is a very good chance you have type 1 and don't know it. (80% of the population has the virus, most of it is dormant, just from casual social kissing) If he has type 1,and if you have the antibodies already you don't have to worry about anything...you can't catch it if you already have it. You might want to check that out.

That is an interesting point. He said that when he has had outbreaks in the past, and he has had this since he was 17 and he is mid-40's now...he has had a total of 8 outbreaks since 17...he said it is like a cold sore, but on his genital area....just one? he said he always just gets one blister and then it goes away....never several at one time...maybe you are right?

matter of time · 12-02-2007, 10:48 AM

Just one blister doesn't necessarily indicate type 1 or 2. But the frequency does. People with genital type 1 sometimes get outbreaks only once and others once a year for a few years and that is it. The virus is very weak genitally-except for the first OB---from what I've read and it has been confirmed by others on the board.

It also makes sence to me that at 17 he probably got oral sex with a teenager who had oral herpes---very common. I don't mean to sound naive but I really don't think too many 17 year olds have GH2 yet.

Genital type 2 generally recurs several times a year...but everyone is different. Over the years though, it may recur once a year or skip years.
My husband had it 35 years. Depending on stress, he may still get it a few times a year and sometimes never in a year.

So 8 OB in about 25 years would lead me to suspect type 1 and very low chance of you getting it....I would not say impossible though.