HPV and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 info

I wanted to know more about the STI risks of swinging so I started doing some reading on the subject. I compiled bullet points of what was important to me and thought it might be helpful to others as well. It is not an exhaustive list. I am not a Dr or Scientist. The validity of the information and the sources where provided is the sole responsibility of the reader. HPV bullet points are in another thread.

HPV Factoids

* Of the more than 150 strains of HPV, 40 affect the genital area, but most don’t pose a serious risk to health.

* Two strains of HPV, types 6 and 11, cause 90 percent of genital warts.

* Only about 1 percent of sexually active Americans have noticeable genital warts which require treatment to prevent the spread to other genital areas and to sexual partners.

* More than 90 percent of all new HPV infections go away or become undetectable within two years, even without treatment.

* Vaccines are available for HPV until age 45

* HPV is so common that many health care providers assume that if someone is sexually active, they have HPV

https://nyulangone.org/conditions/human-papillomavirus-in-adults/types

HSV-2 factoids

* HSV-2 (genital herpes) affects 17% of Americans, is not curable and remains with the carrier for life.

* 80% of carriers show no symptoms or do not recognize the symptoms of HSV-2 and do not know they are contagious carriers.

* anyone with the virus is able to spread the virus to others through skin to skin genital contact when the virus is shedding.

* It's not clear how much genital herpes virus it takes to infect a person, but evidence suggests only a "relatively moderate shedding episode" can infect a sex partner.

* For carriers who show symptoms including lesions and sores, shedding occurs 20% of days compared to 10% of days of those who show no symptoms. In other words, typically, those with symptoms will shed the virus and will be contagious 6 to 7 days each month while those with no symptoms will shed the virus and be contagious 3 to 4 days each month.

* sexual transmission of HSV is more efficient from men to women than from women to men.

* Condom use for intercourse reduces HSV-2 transmission from men to women by 96% and from women to men by 65%. The higher protection rate for women is due to the fact that viral shedding tends to occur on the shaft of the penis which is covered by the condom whereas viral shedding by women occurs around the vulva which is unprotected by the condom.

* Antiviral medication taken daily by HSV-2 carriers can reduce viral shedding by as much as 95% meaning sexual activity with such a person is significantly safer than with a person who is asymptomatic and unaware they have HSV-2.

* In a recent study of 911 discordant couples (meaning one member of the couple had HSV-2 and the other didn’t) over an 18 month period, found that the risk for HSV-2 transmission was 1.3 male-to-female transmissions and 0.6 female-to-male transmission per 1,000 protected sex acts.

* Though uncommon, HSV-2 can be transmitted from the genitals to the mouth via oral sex.

I bring up these problems. Not a popular topic, but good to be aware. We test at least annually and reevaluate periodically based on things people we know have caught. If you do this a lot, it is hard to keep dodging bullets.

Much of the above is applicable to HSV-1 too, with the added bonus that some estimates put infection rates of adults in the USA and Canada at 80% or higher. HSV-1 (cold sores) can also be transmitted during (oral) sex and result in genital lesions on someone who doesn't carry it already.

Ultimately though the worst thing about Herpes is the stigma. Occasional little red bumps on your lips/junk, whoopdee f'ing doo! Normalizing it, talking about it, realizing how frick'n common it is can reduce the fear. And, in my view anyway, there is little of substance to differentiate HSV-1 from HSV-2 - Same virus family? Check! Transmitted skin to skin? Check! Can be transmitted during sex? Check! Can result in sores on lips or genitals? Check! Pretty much benign beyond the occasional annoying outbreak? Check! The only difference then is arbitrary, for some reason (well, a pretty well known reason actually - the Herpes!!OMG!! media scare of the 80s) we've decided that one is deserving of significantly more stigma than the other.

FWIW, I carry HSV-1, take Valacyclovir as a prophylactic to minimize shedding, and always disclose to my play partners.

D

Biology is not my field, but this lead me to ask in all seriousness, are there duplex viruses? Google just confused me on this one.

I wanted to know more about the STI risks of swinging so I started doing some reading on the subject. I compiled bullet points of what was important to me and thought it might be helpful to others as well. It is not an exhaustive list. I am not a Dr or Scientist. The validity of the information and the sources where provided is the sole responsibility of the reader. HPV bullet points are in another thread.

 

Apparently I don’t have the permissions to post link so I’ll have to update this thread with links once I get those privileges.

 

HSV-2 factoids

 

* HSV-2 (genital herpes) affects 17% of Americans, is not curable and remains with the carrier for life.

* 80% of carriers show no symptoms or do not recognize the symptoms of HSV-2 and do not know they are contagious carriers.

* anyone with the virus is able to spread the virus to others through skin to skin genital contact when the virus is shedding.

* It's not clear how much genital herpes virus it takes to infect a person, but evidence suggests only a "relatively moderate shedding episode" can infect a sex partner.

* For carriers who show symptoms including lesions and sores, shedding occurs 20% of days compared to 10% of days of those who show no symptoms. In other words, typically, those with symptoms will shed the virus and will be contagious 6 to 7 days each month while those with no symptoms will shed the virus and be contagious 3 to 4 days each month.

* sexual transmission of HSV is more efficient from men to women than from women to men.

* Condom use for intercourse reduces HSV-2 transmission from men to women by 96% and from women to men by 65%. The higher protection rate for women is due to the fact that viral shedding tends to occur on the shaft of the penis which is covered by the condom whereas viral shedding by women occurs around the vulva which is unprotected by the condom.

* Antiviral medication taken daily by HSV-2 carriers can reduce viral shedding by as much as 95% meaning sexual activity with such a person is significantly safer than with a person who is asymptomatic and unaware they have HSV-2.

* In a recent study of 911 discordant couples (meaning one member of the couple had HSV-2 and the other didn’t) over an 18 month period, found that the risk for HSV-2 transmission was 1.3 male-to-female transmissions and 0.6 female-to-male transmission per 1,000 protected sex acts.

* Though uncommon, HSV-2 can be transmitted from the genitals to the mouth via oral sex.

This was very interesting to read...I still don't understand the + but not detectable diagnosis...if I have it, what are the chances the wife does...she had tested - the last couple times....

Yes, herpes, genital warts, and especially HIV is an extremely worrying concern to me. Way too many men and women nowadays are all about exercising their sexual freedom to the fullest but don't give a damn enough about std and pregnancy prevention. STD's and unplanned pregnancies are spreading like wildfire. I turn down over 90% of the women interested in me I could have sex with, for many reasons I dont trust them "enough" to touch them or let them be around me. Sustained physical health, staying STD free, and avoiding false sexual-related allegations against me is vastly more important to me than inserting my penis inside a vagina.