Valtrex effectiveness transmission
Common Questions and Answers about Valtrex effectiveness transmission
valtrex
No she has to take it everyday. do you only see each other very infrequently like once every few months or something? It takes at least 5 days to "kick in". In the valtrex and transmission study - about 3/4's of the folks who transmitted hsv2 to their partners - weren't taking their valtrex every single day. If you factor those folks out - the risk of transmission is even lower.
does this also help limit asymptomatic viral shedding? I am wondering if it can help prevent me spreading it to someone else like Valtrex would do for someone with it genitally
thank you.
Hey Doc, question for you. I was diagnosed with HSV-2 by type-specific serology 16 months ago after experiencing a primary herpes infection 20 months ago. So, I've been on Valtrex for 16 months without any outbreaks. I've now met the love of my life and DO NOT want to give her herpes.
But what about if I take valtrex and lysine ect............doesnt that decrease chances of transmission. Along with having it for 25 plus years????
I take it to prevent transmission only. I know that Valtrex reduces transmission by half for people. Does anybody know if there is any research showing if long term Valtrex reduces viral shedding?
Also, does anybody know of any research about how much people shed in asymptomatic cases. I read all the stats online, and the Valtrex stats are mainly for people with symptoms. Thanks for any help!!!
I have read in various places that Valtrex is the only suppressive medication that has been proven in clinical trials to reduce transmission. I am under the impression, however, that this is simply because Valtrex is the only drug that has been tested for reduction in transmission.
My question is....since Acyclovir also suppresses the HSV-2 virus, is it likely that it will also reduce the risk of transmission? Or, is Valtrex a more effective drug and should I consider switching to that?
lysine isn't effective for herpes. we don't recommend it.
if you have a regular partner who you are trying to reduce the risk of transmission to, then take valtrex every single day. If you don't currently have a partner and aren't having any painful recurrences, no reason to take it at this time. make sense?
The main point of this question though is to see if you could give me a 1 in X guess at the average per act transmission rate assuming the partner is infected, and no valtrex, condom, or antiviral anything involved. Thanks doc.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Including HIV Infection, Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In addition, consistent and correct use of latex condoms reduces the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including diseases transmitted by genital secretions, and to a lesser degree, genital ulcer diseases.
He is fully aware of the genital herpes situation. I take Valtrex everyday and we use condoms and I refrain from having sex if I have an outbreak. Recently I got on the IUD not only to create Fort Knox down there HA but to also help with my heavy periods every month.
We recently discussed not using condoms because of the fact that I am on the IUD now.
If you understand the risk factors: the average woman with HSV2+ man has 8-10% risk of transmission per year if avoiding sex during ob's (no condoms, no meds, assumes sex 2x per week), if meds taken risk is reduced by 1/2 (2004 study, likely more risk reduction if meds taken every day, but not everyone remembers), this gets it down to 4-5%, using condoms all the time reduces risk to the woman by a factor of 10 (see below explanation from the study), that gets it down to and implied 0.4-0.
Only one of the things that you list, Valtrex, has been shown to reduce transmission of herpes from one person to another. I worry about putting things on the labia that have unproven effects. For example, for a long time we believed that nonoxynol 9 could reduce the risk of herpes transmission, but it turned out it increased the risk! So if you were my patients, I would say that you stop putting things on your vagina except lubricants specifically made for sexual contact.
So now that i found out that i have hsv-1 do i need to take valtrex everyday for the rest of my life if i dont want to get my partner infected?
My girlfriend was just given a prescription for Valtrex, however, even with insurance it is $75 a month. So, her doctor gave her another option in acyclovir, which was only $15 and had to be taken twice a day as opposed to one a day with the valtrex. Is there any real significant benefit to taking the Valtrex that would warrant paying the additional costs? Please let me know, so we can switch if necessary.
I point to your statement of asymptomatic transmission occurring every 1 in 10,000 acts, and to the study which was conducted on the effectiveness of Valtrex in reducing symptomatic occurrences but which also studied asymptomatic viral shedding (number of days percentage)
As i remember, asymptomatic viral shedding was present on 3% of the days in 9 months in patients using Valtrex.
Antibiotics have no influence on the effectiveness of Valtrex. It is highly unlikely, now that you have established infection, that you would move your herpes to a new location on your body. Herpes should not cause your back and neck to feel like they are burning.
It would be good to know what type of virus you have so a more accurate risk assessment can be made about your transmission risks.
Some people say that you need to be taking Valtrex for a while, but her doctor seemed to believe use it on an as-needed basis to get the same benefits (hopefully reduced transmission too). She did take it for a year straight about 2 yrs prior. Was 9 days of Valtrex enough to get it's maximal benefit?
As for the people who contract HSV2 on single events, I was thinking perhaps there may have been outbreaks, just no one was paying attention at the right time?
Hi, I'm a 37 yr old female. I was diagnosed with herpes in April (but I've known that I had it for almost 2 years). My doctor prescribed me with generic Valtrex and to take 2 pills when I feel even a slight tingling or what I suspect to be an outbreak. I've had sex with a man 3 times since being diagnosed. All 3 times we used a condom before any penis to vagina contact was made AND I took a Valtrex pill before intercourse.
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