Hi everyone. Ive been lurking around lately and have come to the conclusion that everyone seems to be super supportive and helpful. As such, I wanted to inform everyone about my story and hopefully the experience on this board will bring forth some answers or hypotheses to my questions. Facts: * My girlfriend and I have been together in a faithful sexual relationship for the past 7 months. * My ex-girlfriend contracted genital warts, not herpes, from a sexual partner while the two of us we're broken up * We got back together and had unprotected sex. We were both tested for the other STD's * All tests came back as negative. I never contracted the warts. * I haven't been with that woman for 1 full year and have been with my girlfriend for the past 7 months * I routinely go for blood work and test for STD's. Always have had negative results. * My ex-girlfriend had another blood test done 6 months after her initial wart outbreak and again it came back negative Problem: * This past sunday I was engaging in sexual relations with my dearly beloved, and noticed some soreness on my penis. (Can we say penis here?!) * By tuesday the redness had manifested into blisters. * By wednesday it was time to see the Doc as blisters were painful and sore to the touch * Doc took a blood and swab sample and said that it is most likely Herpes. * These blisters are painful. Most are concentrated on one area, however there are other blisters in other areas. Question 1: It is my understanding that a Herpes outbreak occurs 2-3 weeks after infection. I have been with my girlfriend for 7 months. (No, there has been no cheating) Neither of us had ever experienced such symptoms. Is it not extremely peculiar that I would have my first outbreak 7 months after first having sex with my girlfriend? And in the event the Herpes was contracted by my ex-girlfriend, that would make it one full year since the last sexual encounter. Any ideas? Question 2: My girlfriend went to the doctor to be examined. She was experiencing symptoms as well. Her doctor diagnosed her with the Herpes virus as well. (Blood test was not done, only a vaginal swab). Is it not bizarre that we both have our first outbreak within 2 days? Technically, my girlfriend could have had the outbreak the same day as me and just not have been aware of it. We are very frustrated. Is it common for the infection to manifest itself so quickly between partners?! Question 3: Generally how long and how bad is the first outbreak? How many days until it starts to get better? Question 4: Once cleared up, how do you avoid re-infecting eachother? When should condoms be an absolute must? Question 5: The doc prescribed Valdarex to me. I was told that if those meds arent taken within the first 72 hours they have no effect. Is this correct? Any help would be much appreciated. Advice...you name it. Dave Male - 24

within the first 72 hours they have no effect. Is this correct? I don't know because I've never taken the meds. Please keep listing your questions and we'll do our best to answer them. ar

Any help would be much appreciated. Advice...you name it. I recommend that you and your partner both go get some herpes type specific blood tests.  Ask for the Herpes Specific Western Blot and see what they say.  If they don't know what it is come back here and someone will tell you how to get one. Take care, Mike

Question 5: The doc prescribed Valdarex to me. I was told that if those meds arent taken within the first 72 hours they have no effect. Is this correct? Valtrex you mean? - and there is no 72hr limit that I've heard of. I'd be surprised if many people get to hammer the drug in inside the 72hr time from virus activity starting. You want it then if you want the best chance of aborting an outbreak from occurring - but even after then hammering the virus wil help shorten the duration of the outbreak by removng the virus from the equation. OK late on they won't help as a lesion isnt just virus activity but also inflammatory stuff. I've seen suggestions to that effect with the topical meds  but not really a huge amount of evidence to support that idea beyond what I said above - though they arent as effective a te tablets. Tim