HIV and HSV I

[mymindislost]

Recently in the expert forum Dr. Hook has commented that HSV I can increase the risk of acquiring HIV. He made these comments across two different posts. I have read that the majority of the population has HSV I (50-90%) of the population.

Does anyone know if it increases the risk only for genital hsv-1, what if you get cold sores on your lip once in a while?
Does it increase the risk only during outbreaks?
If so much of the population has HSV-1, what about the stats being thrown out there for 1 in 2000 for vaginal intercourse, 1 in 10,000 for oral intercourse. Are these statistics for people that dont have HSV-1? I feel like it would be hard to find a sample size of people that dont have it.

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Below are the two posts: (in one he comments genital, in one he does not)

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/559161

"As far as genital HSV-1, this has not been well studied. The have been multiple posts on this topic.  It is reasonable to think that genital HSV-1 could increase one's risk for getting HIV but how much is unknown.  Perhaps to put it if perspective, I will point out that it is unlikely to increase risk more than HSV-2 and the increment is likely less.  Think of the odds - your partner would have to have HIV and then you chance of getting HIV after a single, unprotected genital exposure would be about 1 in 1000.  HSV-2 is thought to increase risk of acquisition about 3-fold, thus to about a 3 in 1000 chance.  Genital HSV-1 would not increase it more and could increase it less.  Not much of an increase for future exposures.  EWH "

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/557694

"There is less information about the change in risk for HIV occurring in persons with HSV-1 than there is for persons with HSV-2.  That said, the viruses are closely related and act similarly biologically so it is reasonable to think that they affect HIV risk similarly, that is to increase it.  The reasons that HIV risk is increased in persons with HSV-2 is thought to be for two reasons - due to the presence of recurrent lesions acting as a "doorway" to make the virus more easily introduced into the body as well as through a less well understood immunological reaction in which the herpes "primes" the immune system to be ready to get infected by HIV.  Both of these are likely to be active, to some degree in persons with HSV-1 as well.  The relationship has been harder to study however because so much of HSV-1 is oral rather than genital infection so determining the site of infection in large enough groups to generate meaningful data is difficult. "

[gracefromHHP]

It's only hsv2 genitally that is an increased risk for hiv infection, not hsv1.   Hsv2 orally isn't going to be increased risk since it's not as active as hsv2 genitally is and doesn't have the chance to cause the actual skin changes that go along with hsv2 genital infection that allow hiv to better infect you.

as always, your partner would have to actually be infected with hiv in order to contract it also.

will answer your other hsv questions on the hsv forum where you also asked them. Just wanted to add this clarification here for others following your post :)

grace

[Teak]

None, because oral sex is not a risk of HIV transmission.

[now_what]

What if a person has oral hsv-2. What are the risks for acquiring hiv then on performing oral sex or kissing?

[mymindislost]

The issue is that some people say genital HSV-1 symptoms are very mild and you can't tell if you have it.

[Teak]

If one has HSV1 on there gentialia, they have no business having unprotect sex. Oral HSV-1 is not an increase risk in contracting HIV.