Question:
I get outbreaks on the scrotum every 2 or 3 months and Acyclovir has been effective at dealing with the outbreaks in the past.

I'm trying to find out how I can responsibly have an active sex life without passing it on to non-carrying females.

I don't really want to take an ongoing suppressive therapy but I'm wondering if a good idea might be to "save myself up" for an orgy :D of sexual activity say every 2 months, and then take a suppressive dose, or even treatment-level dose for a couple of days before this indulgent period and during it.

Would this greatly reduce the chances of asymptomatic shedding for these few days every couple of months, thereby reducing the risk of passing on the virus?

Would at least be something to look forward to.

Thanks

Answer:
wouldn't be too exciting to have that once every 2 month sex fest happen to be a time when you are shedding the virus and dont know it and infect everyone else now would it?

Answer:
sorry to be a downer but you have to get serious or you will infect people and it seems that is something you dont want to do. It sucks but herpes means ALWAYS a risk and never being 100% guaranteed that you will not pass it on unless you NEVER have any sexual contact ya know, which is pretty unrealistic. You have to tell people the truth and let them decide if they want to risk it knowing all the info. Its only fair to the other people...

Answer:
Thanks for your reply.

I am responsible and very serious about not passing it on, which is the main reason I'm here in this forum.

It's all well and good telling them about it up front and them saying "darling it doesn't matter, I love you, we can still do it etc." but to be frank they don't know what's good for them and I would rather stay celibate than give this to people.

OK, I've had quite a lot of sex over the years since I contracted herpes, never during and outbreak, always using a condom and normally with girls I know well, and I've never knowingly passed it on. So it would seem, at least over that time, that I haven't been one of those people who are shedding a lot asymptomatically.

Now it seems logical to me that if I've been clear of an outbreak for a while, and I know I've got some sexual activity coming along, then the virus is not going to choose to start outbreaking during a time when the body is being suddenly flooded with Acyclovir after a break??? Or do these drugs just not work like that?

Answer:
should have written "...the virus is not going to choose to start outbreaking or asymptomatically shedding during a time when the body......"

Can't edit my posts yet

Answer:
no, it is possible for your body to shed the virus even while taking meds.....or even while on suppressive therapy for that matter. The meds only prevent some cells from multiplying...NOT all. czThe virus is very tricky and very sporadic and random in occurences....there is no way to tell for sure what is happening in terms of the virus in your body at all times. Also, you say you have always used condoms which is good but for you that may help some but it will not protect others much because your primary outbreak sites occur where the condom does not cover so really there is no safety guarantee there at all. if someone says it doesnt matter if you have it then maybe you should print them the facts....all of them and let them read them over and see if they are still ok with it because maybe they do not fully understand the high risk or the consequences of what contracting herpes fullly means for their future lives. If they are still ok then try and be careful while doing things with them.....take all precautionary measures even though some can seem to lessen the experience or make it seem strange at first(just my opinion).
Also, please note that when you say as far as you know you havent passed it on....it can go undetected for years and also maybe the people you have been with dont realize they have it or do not have symptoms....but unless they have recieved type specific blood tests every few months there is no way to say for sure non of them have contracted it.

I am like you in not wanting to pass it on in the extreme sense but for me personally I would rather not have sex in the future than risk passing it on.

Answer:
Well that's the sad conclusion I'm coming to. Celibacy seems to be the only truly responsible way forward.

Thanks for all your replies.

Answer:
glad I could help you a bit. Dont give up on sex completely....just forget about casual sex because that is definitely out once you get diagnose with this crap. ....I feel that one day you will meet someone and they will not be afraid to risk it for you. I would like to believe in happy endings but I must say it is easier to be optimistic about other people than ourselves (for me anyway). It sucks so bad having this and all we can do is take it one day at a time. By the way...if you dont mine me asking....how old are you and how long have you had this? just wondering :)