text: my partner and i both have herpes, can we still have unprotected sex? i recently tested positive for herpes. my doctor told me that from the looks of my lesion that i could have contracted herpes about a month ago. i've been with my boyfriend for a couple of months and we have been having unprotected sex so i know i've contracted herpes from him. i recently told him and we both decided to stay together through this but he is worried about the sex. he doesn't like the way condoms feel and is really worried that he won't enjoy sex with a condom. my doctor recently prescribed valtrex for my condition and i have told him to get checked up so that he can start taking medicine also. so my question is since we both have herpes can we still have unprotected sex? since you both have herpes, it's perfectly fine to have unprotected sex. it's not like you are going to reinfect each other or pass it back and forth to each other. once you have it, you will always have it. it is a virus and will stay with you the rest of your life. if one of you are on a breakout though, i would suggest you not have sex, because it could cause the other one to breakout also.   there are a few medications that can suppress herpes. they can be taken daily or just when you are having an outbreak or "feel" an outbreak coming on. i personally only take medicine when i am having an outbreak. valtrex makes me sick to my stomach and makes me dizzy. the more years you have had herpes the less outbreaks you will have too. i have had herpes for about 5 years now, and i get one outbreak a year if that. i've been outbreak free for about a year and a half now, and that's without taking the medicine.  i hope this answered your question! good luck!