Suppressive therapy but no herpes outbreaks?

[Irish1]

I posted a few days days ago about possible rejection due to herpes but I am now wondering about suppressive therapy. I have had it 14 years or so and only had a handful of outbreaks the first few years. Is there really much benefit of suppressive therapy to decrease the possibility of transmitting it if I never get outbreaks?

[mr_hopp]

Hey Irish!

 

Short answer: yes, you can still shed herpes virus even if you've never had an outbreak. And suppressive therapy lessens that viral shedding by 50%. So that cuts your partner's chances of getting herpes in half, too. Suppressive therapy is, of course, useless if you're not having sex with someone who you're trying to protect from getting herpes and you don't have any outbreaks you're trying to avoid.

 

Here's an article all about herpes medication and the only 2 reasons you should take it:

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-medication/

 

And have you read the handouts? They'll give you the more specific answers to your questions about the stats around herpes transmission and viral shedding.

http://bit.ly/h-opp-diagnosis-handout

http://bit.ly/h-opp-disclosure-handout

[Irish1]

Yeah I read them. I just hate taking pills.

[mr_hopp]

Yep, and I hate payin' taxes. But sometimes we just gotta do what we gotta do. ;) If it's going to keep your partner safe, it's worth a few pills a day.

[Irish1]

Just left a message for the Doc.