Passing on Herpes just before an outbreak

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I got diagosnosed with herpes nearly two years from an ex partner. To say I was devastated was an understatement. I thought I would never be able to meet anyone again. I had frequent break outs and have recently started on a daily anti viral medication. I've not had an outbreak for a couple of months. I recently met someone and told him about it before we had sex he was worried but said that he would still continue to see me. I had no symptoms and we had un protected sex last night, a few hours later I started with symptoms of prodome, no actual outbreak yet but but I'm worried sick that this has been passed on to him. I was under the impression as I was on daily anti virals and had no symptoms or outbreak the chances of passing it on would be small hence the reason we had unprotected sex. has anyone else just had the tingling feeling and not had an outbreak and haven't passed it on? My anxiety is through the roof I can't sleep or eat thinking about it

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4 Replies

  • Posted

    Some people get tingling but no outbreak and it's not fully clear what that means in terms of shedding. Since yours started after sex, it might have been brought on by the friction of sex, so you might have been okay at the time. However, that's only speculation.

    If you and your partner are that concerned about passing it on, you should use condoms in addition to the daily meds for maximum risk reduction. Breakthrough shedding/recurrences can occur on the meds, plus given your frequent outbreak history, there's a chance you may shed more.

    I assume you have confirmed gHSV2, by the way. If gHSV1, and you are just unlucky to get lots of recurrences despite having the "better" type, then the risk of transmission is less.

    • Posted

      Thank you for your reply this is my first time on a forum of any kind. I know we should of been more careful and now I'm kicking myself because we're not exactly a couple yet. I did tell him before hand and he has still chose to take the risk but I'm scared if he does get it that will be it and he will resent me the way I resent my ex partner who gave it me as I class him as the one who ruined my life. Just need to hope and pray this time we was lucky and not risk it again. If this doesn't work out I don't think I will ever go through this again the stress and anxiety it has caused me is just to much. Thanks again for replying

    • Posted

      There's a good chance the tingling was *because* of the sex like I mentioned (the friction from sex is a trigger for some folk), so he may well be okay. Herpes also doesn't always pass with each and every sexual encounter, so he's probably fine. But to be extra safe and to reduce this type of unnecessary stress and anxiety in future, plus for your own sexual health, use condoms as well. 👍

    • Posted

      I will thank you, it's made me feel a little bit better. Just got to hope for the best now and I'm going to be so much more careful in future. I know how common it is but it honestly feels like you're the only person in the world with it at times and that it's going to effect every aspect of my life, so the thought of making someone else feel like that is horrible.

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