Torres

I read somewhere recently that genital to genital transmission of HSV1 is extremely rare,almost unheard of. But you might want to research that yourself.

I would be interested to hear what the Westover Heights people said. The quoted transmission rates are *very* confusing. We are told 10%, but the studies, as you say, are over the course of a year (I have seen two studies that also cite a separate figure, the chance of transmission per 10,000 acts). If it is 10% divided by, say, 100 sexual acts then that is very low (and even lower with the use of condoms and anti-virals) - 0.1%. However, a recent study I saw based on mathematical modelling (by some of the same Univ of Washington researchers) used a transmission rate of around 1% per sexual act, so that doesn't make sense either. As I keep finding when carrying out my own research into the virus, there is so much false and unsubstantiated information out there. Even the 'experts' disagree on a lot of fairly fundamental issues. I find it amazing that in all studies no-one can actually tell us what the approximate chances of transmitting the virus are for every time we have sex.

Herpeppotomus - you mean you contracted it when wearing a condom yourself? I meant what are the chances of transmitting it when wearing one. I understand condoms offer men a lot less protection because women have a larger exposed area likely to be transmitting the virus.

Thanks very much. That's what I was thinking... I only have (very mild) outbreaks on the tip of my penis (if they do occur elsewhere I've never noticed them). So I imagine condom use should be very effective. Apart from the very first time I had an outbreak, having HSV causes me no physical problems whatsoever - just the odd sudden painless red rash, which comes and goes very quickly. My main concern is therefore giving it to someone else. Comforting to know that using condoms should work well in my case. I noticed you said on another thread that anti-virals take ten days to become an effective preventative measure for transmission. Is this correct? I remember seeing an academic study which said that four days was enough time for them to prevent shedding effectively. The reason I'm interested in this is that, because of work, I can go long periods without seeing my partner and, as I don't want to take suppressive therapy continouusly, I want to know how far in advance of seeing her again I need to start taking the drugs.

It can cause a burning sensation - I get it all the time I'm on the anti-virals. It's not a prodrome, just a side effect of the drug.

I know condoms are not 100% effective but they are meant to work a lot better in preventing men passing it in on to women than the other way round. So it seems to me that the risk for men of transmitting herpes if they are wearing condoms AND taking anti-virals must be very small. Has anyone got any experience of this happening? (Just trying to put my mind at rest...)

Although they are not 100% effective, I know condoms are meant to work better at preventing men passing it in on to women than the other way round. So it seems to me that the risk for men of transmitting herpes if they are wearing condoms AND taking anti-virals must be very small. Has anyone got any experience of this happening? (Just trying to put my mind at rest...)