I have been diagnosed in the last week with genital herpes, virus 2. I have been looking for details but can't really find a lot about when it is safe to have sex. I have told my new partner but we haven't had sex yet. I had sores near my anus and not on my vagina, it was sore to touch and lumpy but couldn't see anything. Went to the doctors and they took swabs and gave me some cream. The cream made it a bit sore but it has all cleared up now, within a week, now no pain at all and no lumps.
Anyway my question is when is it safe to have sex without passing anything on? Will I always have to use a condom, can oral sex ever be done to me again?
Also can I shave? Will it spread it to different places? I use a battery shaver instead of a razor.
Sam,
You need to get Valtrex which works the best. You can use a condom so your partner doesn't get it. If your just shaving your vagina yes but throw away the blade because it's contagious. If you don't have it in your vagina, your safe but if you don't, it's a risk your partner takes. He can use a dental dam which is sold at sex toy shops. Also an ice pack between your butt cheeks can help soothe you but you have to lay on your side.
I was diagnosed in august of last year. Ive been on valtrex since then. I still have sex with my husband and oral sex and shave regularly.. best thing to do is take antivirals be honest with ur partner avoid sex when there is an outbreak or u think i might have one i.e burning sensation tingling any sign of an outbreak. This skin conditon is just that a skin condition it doesnt define ur life just have to take precautions
There is always a risk that you can pass it on, whether with an outbreak or not, although the risk is obviously higher during an outbreak (and it doesn't matter where on your genitals the outbreak occurs; the whole area sheds virus during an outbreak, not just at the outbreak location). Also, new infections are a lot more infectious for the first few months to a year, symptoms or not.
You should consider taking daily suppressive therapy (5 days required to reach effective levels) in addition to using condoms and avoiding genital contact during suspected outbreaks/prodrome until fully clear. If you are on the meds properly, oral sex should be okay.
Shaving is fine, but irritation could trigger an outbreak (especially if not on the meds) and pubic hair actually serves as a protective barrier from direct skin to skin contact. Don't use the same blade elsewhere, especially within the first four months of infection (when antibodies are still forming, if unmedicated). Personally, I would not shave till after 4 months, keep a dedicated blade for the pubic area, and consider trimming instead.