Sex life after diagnosis

I was diagnosed with herpes back in the fall, and while my partner has been cool about things I have to say it's something of a damper on our sex life. Not as spontaneous, thinking about condoms when before we didn't. Has this happened to anyone else? What did you do?

Originally Posted by Taylor Made

I was diagnosed with herpes back in the fall, and while my partner has been cool about things I have to say it's something of a damper on our sex life. Not as spontaneous, thinking about condoms when before we didn't. Has this happened to anyone else? What did you do?

Yeah, I was diagnosed some years ago and know what you mean. I can say that herpes has become a nuisance, but not a disaster for my sex life. When my partner and I first got together, we used condoms and I took daily herpes meds to not only reduce outbreaks, but to lower the risk I might transmit it to her. After about a year, we stopped the meds and just used a condom. If we get married I doubt we'll do even condoms, but the point is there are options that don't eliminate the risk to a partner, but can really reduce their risk.

When my partner and I first got together, we used condoms and I took daily herpes meds to not only reduce outbreaks, but to lower the risk I might transmit it to her.

How does this work? Does it make much of a difference?

How much of a difference does it make?

My doctor said taking Valtrex everyday can reduce the risk of transmission by about half. It doesn't guarantee anything, but it does reduce the risk a lot.

That's good to know, about the meds. I didn't know there was much of anything you could do besides condoms and not having sex when you have any sores. Is this common knowledge? Never had anyone mention it to me, and I was diagnosed more than a year ago.