Risk factors for HSV-2 infection in people whose partners have genital herpes

(17 April 2003)

A team of researchers from Europe and the US have identified a number of factors that increase the probability of herpes transmission to an infected partner. These risk factors include:

the length of the partnership (i.e. the longer the couples are together the more likely a partner is to become infected)

• vaginal sex during an episode of genital herpes
• being female
• never using condoms
• a low knowledge and a lack of understanding about genital herpes and how it is transmitted

a relatively new infection of genital herpes posed an increased risk to partners without the infection

This new study was conducted in couples where one partner was diagnosed with genital herpes and the other had no history of genital herpes, but may have been unknowingly infected. All couples who took part in the study were heterosexual and in monogamous relationships. 1,193 couples completed questionnaires, which examined general lifestyle, behaviour factors and knowledge about the infection.

IHA Chair, Charlie Ebel, commented: “Any research that examines the risk factors which contribute to the transmission of genital herpes from partner to partner is important. The more that is understood about these risk factors, the more that can be done to educate people on how to reduce the risk of passing the virus to others.”

Ref: Rana RK et al. Risk Factors for HSV2 Infection in Individuals Whose Partners Have Genital Herpes. Abstract Presented at Eurogin, April 2003.