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Need the answer

Posted , 3 users are following.

noelle2212
noelle2212

I'm kinda confused, I just let this take a backseat bc I wasn't real concerned. But I'm still trying to figure out the answer to this question. I don't get outbreaks on my vagina at all. I get it between my vagina and my thigh, kinda under my buttcheek. So can I just pass this on through direct contact of that certain area or can I also pass it on through my vagina? People give me different answers. Seeing I had unprotected sex for almost 2 years with this unknowingly and never passed it on, it's hard for me to believe I can pass it vaginally. Anyone know the answer to this? I need to make an appointment to ask my doctor a bunch of questions .... Thanks.

0 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

  • FelizCastus
    FelizCastus noelle2212

    Posted

    From what I've read, shedding occurs randomly and silently anywhere within the boxer short area, regardless of where lesions usually break out. Let me dig up a link.
    • noelle2212
      noelle2212 FelizCastus

      Posted

      I read that when the virus comes to surface of the skin that is when it " sheds"
    • noelle2212
      noelle2212 FelizCastus

      Posted

      HSV-2 lives in the nerves. When it's active, it travels to the surface of the infected area (skin or mucous membrane) and makes copies of itself. This is called "shedding" because these new viruses can, at this time, rub off on another person."- webmd
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus noelle2212

      Posted

      Yes, and lesions are not necessary. The virus can "shed" via mucosal skin alone (e.g., vagina), but not typically via normal skin (e.g., buttocks) unless lesions are present.

      Read a few expert answers just now, and basically this and my other post are correct, although some say shedding is primarily limited to the anogenital area (because of the mucosal skin there) vs the entire boxer short area, but this still includes the vagina!

      Outbreaks, however, can occur anywhere in the boxer short area, and sometimes beyond.

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus

      Posted

      Another thing about shedding. The virus does not normally shed via the entire area, but rather in select locations within the potential shedding area, so the vagina may sometimes shed the virus, and at other times not.
  • kaya38189
    kaya38189 noelle2212

    Posted

    Speaking from experience, not what I read. And I've asked my doctor this question. You can pass it with or without an outbreak. Un protected sex with an outbreak is a higher risk. But un protected sex with no outbreak, it varies. Everyone's body is different. So there's no real cut & dry answer.
  • FelizCastus
    FelizCastus noelle2212

    Posted

    Not from experience and simply quoting the usual stats, lol, a discordant monogamous couple that has regular sex only when outbreak-free, but without antiviral meds and no condoms, has a female-to-male transmission risk of just 4% per year. So, it's pretty low, but also not zero.
  • noelle2212
    noelle2212

    Posted

    Thanks everyone.. Maybe because I don't get it bad that I don't shed as much? Idk. I forget I have this problem half the time... Just was curious bc I read different things. Some say condom won't protect you from it if you have it outside the vagina... So idk I'll ask the doctor still, but thanks for the comments smile
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus noelle2212

      Posted

      The vagina sheds even if you don't get lesions/symptoms there, but shedding is not everyday and not always from the vagina, hence the low 4% risk per year. The more years you have HSV-2, the less you also shed, but it's still a lot more than gHSV-1, even after many years.

      Random Fact: Guys who used condoms but still managed to catch HSV-2 tend to get lesions at the base where it's not protected and enters the vagina, while those who didn't use protection tend to get lesions around the head and/or on the shaft where the skin is more susceptible. At least in the initial outbreak.

  • noelle2212
    noelle2212

    Posted

    If anyone is curious I asked the doctor. You are only goin to pass it on through the infected area. Skin to skin contact. Most of the info online is for people

    Who actually get outbreaks on their private parts. Since I don't... I'm safe pretty much. That's why having unprotected sex for all that time, didn't cause any issues and he was negative... So that's some what good news for me... Plus I've only had one outbreak in 2 years so I believe my chances of passing is low ...

    • noelle2212
      noelle2212 FelizCastus

      Posted

      I don't think he is wrong... I have no issues on my vagina at all, no pain no sores no nothing... I think it's direct contact with the infected area...
    • noelle2212
      noelle2212

      Posted

      Your vagina will shed if you get lesions on that area... That's just common sense. as my outbreak area will shed...
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus noelle2212

      Posted

      Nope. You don't need symptoms or outbreaks, remember? Aymptomatic shedding and all that. The guy who gave it to me claims he never had symptoms, no outbreaks, nothing, but he was still infectious! Same goes for those of us with outbreaks. We still have asymptomatic shedding at random.

      In a study looking at women with HSV-2, they documented both symptomatic and frequent *asymptomatic* shedding from the vagina and/or cervix, etc. No need for symptoms and shedding can vary location. Mucosal skin is where shedding can pass to others, as noted above, not normal skin (unless with lesions).

      Once you are infected genitally, the whole area is impacted (because it's served by the same infected nerve root), regardless of where your outbreaks occur.

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus

      Posted

      Pity I didn't find this earlier, but even better, here's a reply by Dr Handsfield, who heads up the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) and is a renowned STD/HSV expert:

      "2) Symptomatic recurrent outbreaks do not necessarily occur at the site of the initial infection. Recurrent episodes can occur anywhere from waist to upper thighs. (Think of the parts of the body covered by men's boxer shorts -- that's where recurrent HSV-2 episodes are possible.) However, regardless of where the symptomatic outbreaks occur, most people have asymptomatic genital shedding; for women, that means the vagina, cervix, etc. You cannot assume there is no potential for transmisssion just because there are no symptomatic outbreaks or because they occur on, say, the buttocks or lower back."

      So, take care with negative partners and perhaps you can educate your doctor the next time!

      Source: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Clarification-of-transmission/show/918374

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