Expert: DW - 6/24/2008

Question
Dear Diane,

1) I wanted to ask a practical question.  There is alot of information on Internet about what genital herpes is and what it does and that one can past the infection to a partner even when there is no symptoms, called asymptomatic shedding.  I also read the infection in the US has reached about 45 to 50m people.

2) But on a practical aspect, if a man has been previously diagnosed with genital herpes a few years back, has since married and now wants to start a family with his wife, how does one practically get wife pregnant without infecting her?  From what I read, a newly infected women is also most at risk to giving a baby the infection and having complications.

2) Does one have to use artificial insemination or invitro fertilization to get wife pregnant, is it practical?  There is no information on websites and had a discussion with a gynecologist which was unclear on what is normally done, all they implied was there is a risk.  

3) What do 45 to 50 million Americans or lets say the 15 to 20 million who know they have herpes, normally do when they have herpes and want to start a family?  


Bob

Answer
Hi Bob,

I'm sorry to hear of your situation. Does your wife know of your diagnosis? If so, how are you not afraid of infecting her at this time? I have not heard of this question but it is very serious and something to be considered. I know of a situation but in that situation, the wife had herpes and the husband never really got any of the symptoms or suffered. The couple was older and did not necessarily want to start a family. I will see what I can find out. If you will email me at DWooley97@yahoo.com I will try to do some research. But I don't know if I can find anything if you haven't been able to but I'll try.
Here's an article I just found

http://www.babycenter.com/0_herpes-during-pregnancy_1360877.bc

Did you look on http://www.herpes.com

Let me know what happens.