Understanding HSV-2 Transmission: Monogamy vs. Casual Partnerships
This research finding is from the same study that I shared yesterday (if you haven’t seen it yet, start there!).
Wald et al.’s (2006) study of 199 sexually active participants with presenting symptoms of genital herpes provides evidence that engaging sexually with someone who knows their HSV-2 status reduces the potential of transmission.
While many people believe they’re more likely to contract herpes from a “casual” sexual partner, this study found that HSV-2 transmission is more likely in monogamous partnerships.
These findings might seem contradictory at first. But when we look at the reasons into why transmission is more likely in monogamous relationships, these findings work in support of one another.
When you’re engaging sexually with one partner who has herpes (the same partner and only that partner), you’re increasing the amount of opportunities for transmission, specifically asymptomatic transmission. For example, you’re more likely to get herpes from your partner if you’re having sex multiple times per week than if you were to have sex with them three times per year.
In addition, many partners in monogamous relationships (not all) find that they reduce management practices (barriers, antivirals, etc.) in favor of sexual comfort and closeness with their partner as the relationship progresses. Which means there are more opportunities for transmission, yet again.
Although this sample is small, it gives insight into sex and STI shaming that exists within our culture. To me, this finding further proves that the CDC’s recommendation of monogamy as a way to manage herpes is sex and STI shaming bullshit.🤷🏻♀️