"Intermittent asymptomatic shedding occurs in persons with genital HSV-2 infection, even in those with longstanding or clinically silent infection."1
Transmission in the Absence of an Outbreak
- Mertz et al showed that up to 70% of transmission of herpes may occur during periods of asymptomatic viral shedding2
- Asymptomatic viral shedding can occur regardless of how many outbreaks patients experience*3
- A study by Wald et al found that most patients shed virus asymptomatically4
- A study of 110 women, followed for a median of 105 days, also found that 50% of episodes of asymptomatic viral shedding occurred more than 7 days from a symptomatic outbreak5
Asymptomatic viral shedding is not linked to outbreak frequency
- Wald showed that the rate of asymptomatic shedding among women with 1 to 12 recurrences per year did not differ significantly from that of women without recurrences5
- A second study by Wald showed that asymptomatic viral shedding occurred as often in seropositive patients without a history of symptomatic genital herpes as in seropositive patients with a history of symptomatic genital herpes (3.0% vs 2.7% of days)6
- Whether or not HSV-2 seropositive patients have recognized outbreaks, the majority of patients will shed virus at some point in time6
Impact of asymptomatic viral shedding on patients
- Patients cannot predict if, when, or where they might be shedding asymptomatically5
- Avoiding sex during an outbreak may not be enough to reduce transmission to a partner5
- Patients should be counseled to use safer sex practices including condoms at all times and should be told of additional options to protect their partner1
- Daily therapy can reduce asymptomatic viral shedding3,7,8
- Click here to learn more about ways to reduce the risk of transmission of genital herpes†
The clinical significance of reducing viral shedding has not been established.
*Sample results from a prospective study to determine frequency of viral shedding in 110 immunocompetent
female patients with a clinical history of genital herpes (median 1.3 years). Patients were followed for a median
of 105 days. Specimens for culture were collected for a median of 82 days.
†In immunocompetent heterosexual adults. Safer sex practices should be used with daily therapy with VALTREX.
female patients with a clinical history of genital herpes (median 1.3 years). Patients were followed for a median
of 105 days. Specimens for culture were collected for a median of 82 days.
†In immunocompetent heterosexual adults. Safer sex practices should be used with daily therapy with VALTREX.
