VERY IMPORTANT NEWS FOR THOSE WITH INTIMATE PARTNERS!! USING ANTIVIRAL MEDICATION OFFERS PROTECTION FOR UNINFECTED PARTNERS!! 

A recent study has now proved that the risk for uninfected partners of persons with genital herpes can be reduced by some 50% overall if the infected person will take the antiviral medication every day. The risk of the uninfected person developing symptoms is reduced even further, by some 75%. If condoms are used in addition to the infected person taking the medication, then the risk is reduced to virtually nonexistent, according to the study. While the study was performed with valacyclovir, it is possible that other antiviral medications may offer a similar effect, though this has not been studied.