How Accurate are The Controlled Trials?

[hippyherpy]

When I read a stat that says 1/233 people in trial contracted HSV2 from their partner while using condoms and Valtrex, I wonder if it might have been user error at play.The scientists can't monitor everything unless they locked the all the people in in a lab. Who knows- maybe that couple who produced that 1/233 transmission messed up in putting on the condom or what if the non-infected partner cheated on the infected partner with someone who was also infected but didn't follow the protocol of the test?

 

Something seems off when you have that many other people not getting infected compared that tiny number. Could there have been other factors involved? How stringent are these tests?

[2Legit2Quit]

I don't know, I coukd be wrong, but it kind of seems that you may not want to accept that it can still be passed w condoms and meds. You question numbers to dispute any possible risk of transmission frequently. I think you want 100% assurance, that you w out a doubt, can't pass it, but you can.

[chikitta13]

The quality of studies can vary greatly, but in order to be published the methods are subject to a blind review by peers knowledgeable in that particular area. Some journals have much more stringent standards than others because they are heavily used in future clinical practice and research. As for user error, sure that's a possibility. So is a broken condom. And so is shedding in areas not covered by the condom. Especially in the earlier stages of contacting the virus.

[chikitta13]

Also for the record there is no perfect research study, but I've read the study you are referring to several times and the research methods are pretty sound.