QuestionI have been married for about 5 years. My husband and I have been discussing having children but there is just on problem, my husband has herpes. I am very nervous about contracting it, so I continuously put off the subject. I really want to have children but I am not sure how to go about with out getting the disease. Do you have any suggestions? What steps do I need to take?
AnswerDear Denise,
General precautions exist with men who are infected and with pregnant women (infected or not). They would include: abstaining from sex when you/he have active outbreaks, using condoms for intercourse between outbreaks, and possibly abstaining from intercourse during the last trimester of a pregnancy as an added protection for the baby from neonatal herpes. If he has oral HSV-1 (approximately 50%-80% of adults do), avoid oral sex when he has an active outbreak (cold sore). HSV-1 can spread to your partner's genital area and give her (you - in your case) genital herpes.
Additionally, being smart about managing the disease will help to significantly decrease the chances of infecting you or others in the family. This would include simple things like:
- watching himself closely for symptoms and to treat them promptly. Evidence is clear that as many as 80% to 90% of people that are infected with HSV do not have outbreaks. However, 60% of these people without obvious outbreaks do have SOME symptoms.
- shower at least daily, maybe twice daily when symptoms are present, and wear clean clothing that is changed regularly. Also, washing your hands regularly after any contact with areas where outbreaks occur is essential.
- Blisters that occur during outbreaks should be broken in the shower using a clean wash rag with plenty of warm soapy water. Once the wash rag is used on the rash however, it should not be used further, and should be sent through a hot soapy cycle in the washing machine before using again.
- Once the blisters are broken, they should be cleaned with alcohol, once on the first day and once on the second day. (**This applies ONLY to external blisters, NEVER internal blisters.) Though this process will produce some pain, alcohol kills fresh virus and sterilizes the wound, decreasing the likelihood of a secondary bacterial infection. If using alcohol is too uncomfortable, soap and water is acceptable for use and is almost as effective.
- After the lesions have been cleaned, they should be covered with a small amount of absorbent material, such as Kleenex or toilet paper. The tissue absorbs wound fluid and keeps it from spreading elsewhere, and should be changed two or three times a day. Also, if "hospital-type" alcohol pads are used to clean the area, then the pad can be left on the external lesion, absorbing any liquid from the lesion during the day, and removed in a warm shower later in the day.
New evidence has shown that the use of Valtrex, and possibly other anti-virals such as Acyclovir, dramatically diminishes viral shedding and MAY prevent, or decrease transmission of the disease to partners. Thus people with genital HSV should consider being on antiviral medication if they are in intimate relationships. Topical acyclovir (Zovirax) can also help some people with oral Herpes lesions (or cold sores). A newer preparation, Denavir, has also recently been approved by the FDA for this use.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
