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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Unprotected Sex Safe If Suffering From Genital Herpes?

Hi, I was wondering if you could help with a little query?

I am a female genital herpes sufferer ... I have recently met a new boyfriend, I am very careful at all times and know exactly when a break out is ! Last night I had to be truthful with him as I had a bad breakout... He took the news very well, then told me he was sufferer too ! we had unprotected sex ! will this cause any problems for either of us? we are both sufferers although his outbreaks are not as frequent as mine, I am hoping this doesnt cause him any problems?

Thanks for any info

Mel faulkner
posted on Thu, 13 Mar 2014
Twitter Tue, 13 Jan 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 13 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on
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Dermatologist,  's  Response
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic

I would suggest you to always have protected sex even though both of you have genital herpes.
It is a possibility that you may be having infection with a different Hsv type than what your boyfriend has.
There are two types of Hsv (type 1 Hsv and type 2 Hsv) and either type may cause genital herpes. Therefore it is a possibility that both of you have different Hsv types.
Infection with one herpes type does not confer immunity to against a different type of Hsv infection.
Therefore unprotected sex may cause a flare up of an active episode of herpes in either or both of you, either because of infection with a different type of Hsv.
Unprotected sex may still cause a flare up of herpes sores even though you both carry the same type of Hsv infection.
Therefore I would suggest you to use a protection always, regardless of Hsv status.

Regards
Always practice safe sex with a condom!
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Is Unprotected Sex Safe If Suffering From Genital Herpes?

Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic I would suggest you to always have protected sex even though both of you have genital herpes. It is a possibility that you may be having infection with a different Hsv type than what your boyfriend has. There are two types of Hsv (type 1 Hsv and type 2 Hsv) and either type may cause genital herpes. Therefore it is a possibility that both of you have different Hsv types. Infection with one herpes type does not confer immunity to against a different type of Hsv infection. Therefore unprotected sex may cause a flare up of an active episode of herpes in either or both of you, either because of infection with a different type of Hsv. Unprotected sex may still cause a flare up of herpes sores even though you both carry the same type of Hsv infection. Therefore I would suggest you to use a protection always, regardless of Hsv status. Regards Always practice safe sex with a condom!