Results from meds

Hi. I've been Hsv2 positive for over 10 years and the first year I used Valtrex everyday. Eventually I only needed to take it when and if I had an outbreak. I can count on almost one hand the # of outbreaks I've had. Probably 6 spaced way far apart and usually triggered by extreme stress. So yes medication should lessen the outbreaks. And of course try to keep stress away. I know that's not always possible but for me it had to be pretty bad stress to cause a breakout. As far as transmission I simply live like if I'm unprotected with or without an outbreak I'm putting my partner at risk so I'm honest about it and I use protection. Recently I've settled down with a man I'll probably man and he made the decision not to use protection because of his feelings for me. Those people are out there.

Outbreaks are greatly reduced by daily suppressive therapy, and overall viral shedding is reduced by about 70-80%, if I remember correctly. Breakthrough recurrences are still possible, but shouldn't be frequent, so vigilance is still required.

Sexual transmission is reduced by about 50% on daily suppressive therapy. The main study on long-term discordant couples where one had established HSV-2 infection found female to male transmission rates to be around 4% per *year*. With condoms 2%, and with daily meds 1% (each reduces transmission by about 50%).

It is important to note, however, that the 4% starting point is likely higher for those with new or recent HSV-2 infections, as well as for those in new relationships, since there may be other factors at play in long-term discordant couples (e.g., the negative partner may have an as yet unknown resistance or the like).

ive been on the daily meds since December and have gone from almost constant outbreaks with only a week or so between them to none since starting the suppressive therapy