Response to reader: I wish herpes would go away!

Monique Rainford, Gleaner Writer

Good day Dr Rainford,

I read the article published on May 19 and I would like some more advice on living with herpes. I found out in 2009 that I am living with this disease. My last relationship ended in 2004 when I started seeing signs that something was wrong. I visited a gynaecologist who ordered me to do a blood test.

Upon receiving the results, I tried hard to contact my last partner. He said he was free from any sexually transmitted infection and that his spouse gave birth two years ago and neither she nor the child had the disease.

I was and still am surprised because I know it had to come from somewhere and he was my last partner up to this day.

If I have it, I cannot understand how he is free from it. I spend nights crying, wishing it would go away. I am even scared to enter another relationship. Who will accept me with this disease that has no cure?

Doctor, could it be that I got it from my first-ever relationship that ended in 2000 and not from the last one? And what are the dangers of having an outbreak and not treating it? The Valtrex tablets are very expensive, even with my health card. I must say I have had one or two outbreaks but haven't treated it because of the cost of the tablets. Am I at any risk and is it true that herpes is a high contributor to cervical cancer?

Response

Dear Reader,

I am so sorry to hear about the obvious pain that your diagnosis is causing you. Your previous partner may or may not be free of the disease. However, it is also possible that you had acquired the disease during your first relationship but did not recognise the symptoms. There are many men who are willing to have a relationship with a woman even if she has herpes and I highly recommend that you seek counselling to properly cope with your diagnosis and help you move on with your life

Herpes treatment can make outbreaks improve faster and decrease the shedding of the virus, but not treating your outbreaks does not cause you greater health risks. Acyclovir is another treatment available for herpes, although it requires more doses. It is cheaper than Valtrex. Valtrex is also now available in a generic form which is cheaper.

What about cervical cancer?

Herpes does not directly cause cervical cancer which is linked to certain types of the human papilloma virus or HPV. However, women who are infected with both these viruses may be at a higher risk.

There are excellent methods available to help prevent cervical cancer and I recommend that you get your regular Pap smear and you can also consider getting the HPV vaccine to lower your risks. Let me assure you that there are many happy, healthy women living with herpes who have found loving spouses and have given birth to healthy children.

Please, do not despair because there is hope for you.

Dr Monique Rainford is a consulting obstetrician and gynaecologist. Email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.