Thursday, February 16, 2012
Monday, October 13, 2008 razorcat asks

Q: how easy is it to spread hsv2 while using daily acyclovir therapy?

i am a 32year old female. i have had 2 out breaks, the first in august 2007,  the second in feb 2008. i started taking 400mg of acyclovir twice daily, after the feb outbreak. i dont want to give the disease to anyone else, but how 'safe' am i if i use a condom?

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Answers (4)
10/15/08 11:10pm

Daily Valtrex plus use of a condom everytime you have sex and refraining from sex when you have active disease should make it pretty safe for you to have a healthy sexual life.  that being said, you should let your partners know that you have herpes.

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5/ 1/09 6:07am

i wonder the same thing? I didnt use condoms because I was on Valtrex and now I am worried I may have passed it on. I thought the Valtrex kept the virus at bay. I have never missed a dose, and my second outbreak is about 3 months since the first. I feel lost and unsure what I am supposed to do. He knew I have herpes and he is the one who chose no condoms even though i bought them for his use and explained the consequences in detail. I think he is in denial.

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4/10/11 12:46am

According to an article in the New York Times, http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/giving-your-partner-herpes/, a condom alone is roughly 30% effective. Antiviral drugs alone are roughly 49% effective. The only way to avoid herpes is to avoid sexual contact with an infected partner.

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4/10/11 12:47am

According to an article in the New York Times, http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/giving-your-partner-herpes/, a condom alone is roughly 30% effective. Antiviral drugs alone are roughly 49% effective. The only way to avoid infecting someone with herpes is to avoid sexual contact with an uninfected partner.

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