Condoms Reduce Women's Risk of Herpes Infection, but Do Not Protect Men

Abstract

Researchers analyzed behavioral and demographic data from participants in two multisite HSV vaccine trials conducted in the middle 1990s to assess whether using condoms reduces the transmission of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The study included 528 couples who at enrollment tested negative for both HSV-2 and HIV and had been involved in a monogamous relationship for at least 6 months with an individual infected with HSV-2. Susceptible partners were interviewed during an initial screening where they were instructed to keep a diary of their sexual activity for the duration of the study. During the studys observation period 26 of the women and 5 of the men acquired HSV- 2. The researchers found that the susceptible partners likelihood of acquiring the virus increased with each additional sex act per week and each 5-year reduction in age; the risk was doubled if the source partner was seropositive for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Participants who reported having used condoms more than 50% of the time throughout their lives were less likely to acquire the virus than those who reported less condom use. Moreover using condoms for more than 25% of sex acts was associated with a decreased risk of HSV-2 acquisition. However when the data were analyzed by gender condom use was highly protective for women but had no significant effect for men.