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Understanding the stats (in the handouts)


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Posted

I'm a 60 y/o single female, recently infected with HSV-1 genital herpes. I want to better understand the statistics/percentages that I have been reading and see in the disclosure handout.

On the left side, the stats for transmission from female to males says 4% with no protection , 2% condoms only, 1%  meds and condoms. The middle column states that the 4% unprotected statistic holds "Assuming no sex during outbreaks, no daily meds, no condom use" am I reading this correctly?

Then there is the 3 layers of protection statistics that state "daily suppressive therapy reduces risk by 50%, condom use by uninfected male with infected female reduces risk by 65%" - I do not understand how these stats affect the overall. Can someone explain this to me so that I can explain these statistics to a potential partner?

Thanks

Posted

Great question @Jmarie, and I get why you’d want to be super clear on the handouts before explaining it to a partner. Let’s break it down.

The stats on the left side of the handout reflect yearly transmission rates for HSV-2. If there’s no protection (no meds, no condoms, and no sex during outbreaks), the risk of female-to-male transmission is 4% per year. When you add condoms OR meds, it cuts that risk in half to about 2%. Adding daily antivirals and condoms together reduces the risk even further to just about 1%.

The middle section explains how each protective measure works independently. Suppressive therapy (daily antivirals) reduces shedding by about 50%, and condoms reduce risk by around 65%. When you combine them, you multiply the benefits, which is how you get that ~1% yearly risk.

So, if you’re already taking antivirals, using condoms, and avoiding sex during outbreaks, you’re stacking the odds heavily in your favor. That’s a solid foundation for an honest and informed conversation with a partner.

This content is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute medical advice or diagnosis. I'm not a medical professional, so please take this as friendly peer support. 

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