Hi everyone,
About two months ago I got into a relationship with an awesome guy. Like responsible adults, we went to get STD panels before we had sex. I'm negative for all. His HSV2 came back positive with Igg of >10, which shocked him completely. So shocked, he took it again to make sure. He never had any symptoms. I care about him a lot and don't want to abandon what we have because of this. After getting over the initial shock and fears we both had by researching it to death, we're trying to proceed in a way that will keep me safe. Here are the precautions we're taking:
1. He's on valtrex- 500mg twice a day.
2. We're using a condom every single time.
3. He washes himself with soap right before we have sex, I wash with soap after.
Now it's a few weeks later, and he's been obviously closely paying attention and looking for changes in his penis. A few days ago, a little red bump appeared just under the head where it meets the shaft. I asked if he felt any different before he saw the bump. He said his testicles had been tingly and itchy- but not so bad that he really would have ever thought about it before knowing he had HSV2 and being hypersensitive to any weirdness going on in that area! So that's the background. Here are some questions:
1. We will not have sex during his outbreaks. But after the blister is gone, do we need to wait for a certain amount of time, or as long as it's cleared up, sex with a condom is just as ok as when he hasn't had a recent breakout?
2. Are there any other precautions we can be taking that people have found to be helpful?
3. Are there success stories of people being in long term relationships and the negative partner never catching the HSV? Or is it just inevitable at some point if you are having sexual contact with someone who has it, no matter how many precautions you take?
4. He just started the valtrex about 2 weeks ago. Shouldn't that be suppressing outbreaks? How often in general do people who are on daily valtrex tend to have outbreaks.
Thank you so much in advance.