Herpes Support Network - Herpes and Children... this is the first concern many of us have when we are diagnosed with gential herpes.

Herpes and Children... this is the first concern many of us have when we are diagnosed with gential herpes.

Posted on 2007-Jun-19 at 01:48

The first thing to realize is that a person with herpes can live a normal, happy and healthy life just like anyone else.

Having herpes does not mean that you will not be able to have children (whether you are a man or a woman). Herpes is not a genetic condition and so cannot be passed on from parent to child in this way. Herpes is also not spread through blood, semen or vaginal fluids, instead, the virus is spread by direct contact.

Things that a WOMAN with gential herpes should consider...

If a woman is having an outbreak during labor and delivery and there are herpes lesions in or near the birth canal, the doctor will do a cesarean section to protect the baby. Most women with genital herpes, however, do not have signs of active infection with the virus during this time and can have a normal delivery.

If a woman has primary herpes (her first ever encounter with the virus) at any point in the pregnancy, there is the possibility of the virus crossing the placenta and infecting the baby in the uterus (about 5% of cases). This transmission of the virus to the fetus causes neonatal herpes, a rare but potentially fatal condition. Mothers who acquire genital herpes in the last few weeks of pregnancy are at the highest risk of transmitting the virus.

However, women with a history of genital herpes before becoming pregnant have a very low risk of transmitting the virus to their baby. This is because of antibodies circulating in the mother's blood, these antibodies should protect the baby during pregnancy.

If a pregnant woman has an outbreak, which is not the first episode, her baby’s risk of being infected during delivery is very low. In either case, if you are pregnant and infected with genital herpes, you should stay in close touch with your doctor before, during, and after your baby is born.

If you are interested in talking to other mothers with HSV you may like to visit the Herpes Support Forum. It is a good place to go for encouragement and support.

Things that a MAN with gential herpes should consider...

As mentioned above, having herpes does not mean that you will not be able to have children, nor does it affect your ability to concieve or the quality or delivery of your sperm.

When the man has genital herpes and the woman has no evidence of infection, you may need to consider:

A blood test to establish if your girlfriend has HSV antibodies

The use of condoms from the time of conception, through until the time of birth
You may wish to take herpes medication for the duration of the pregnancy to help suppress shedding
Avoiding oral sex for the duration of the pregnancy if the male has a history of facial herpes or cold sores
Exploring alternatives to intercourse, such as touching, kissing, fantasizing, massage

If you care about your partner and want to have an intimate relationship with her herpes does not have to stand in the way. Couples deal successfully with herpes all the time and in most cases it is only a minor inconvenience.

Many couples have had sex for years without transmitting herpes. Some simply avoid having sexual contact when signs or symptoms are present, while others use condoms or other protection between outbreaks to help protect against asymptomatic shedding (transmission that can occur when no symptoms are present).

Read up on Safe Sex with Herpes and Herpes Prevention to get informed.

Some good herpes resources:

Talk about it (in private) on the Discussion Forum

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Herpes and Children... this is the first concern many of us have when we are diagnosed with gential herpes.

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