Resolved question:
I recently met someone I am considering getting intimate with who has a weak heart valve. I don't know much about the condition, but he told me that he must be careful about sex and getting STDs because any infection can go to his heart and cause problems or even be fatal. I am female and have had 1 herpes outbreak about 9 years ago and have never (to my knowledge) spread it to anyone else, and have never had a recurrence. However, I am still somewhat concerned about this and would like clarification before we do get intimate. Is herpes one of the STDs that can go to his heart and ultimately lead to his death?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Infectious Disease Specialist
Hello,
Having a heart condition puts your partner at risk for a condition called Infective Endocarditis. This is an infection of the heart valves.
But Herpes virus is NOT known to cause such infection. So your past history of Herpes will NOT put your partner in any additional risk. Besides 50% of the adults are already positive for HSV (herpes simplex Virus) hence is it likely that your partner would already have antibodies to HSV. It is very unlikely that you will transfer Herpes to your partner and secondly Herpes Infection will not effect his heart valves. And you are less likely to be infective as you do not have any active lesion.
But you should consider informing the past history of herpes if you feel so, but its more of a personal choice.
Simply put you do not put him in any additional risk.
Hope this helps
Feel free to ask followups
Thank you