A question for Grace

Hey Grace:
   So, I found out from a culture that I have genital HSV 1 about 3 months ago.  I got it from my boyfriend, who never noticed any symptoms-but then tested positive for HSV 1 from a blood test.  When the dr. told us that most people who say they never had symptoms, start to realize that things like "ungrown hairs, bumps, cuts, burning.." are actually symptoms, my boyfriend then realized that he did have things that he thought were strange but didn't want to really find out.  Ironically, we had unprotected sex for 3 yrs. before I got it ( I know b/c my blood test came back -negative the first time).
Anyway---what I'm wondering is, I know that type 1 is typically more prevalent orally.  So, now that we both already have type 1, am I at risk of getting it orally still if I give him oral sex?  Can you re-infect yourself w/the same virus in a different place?  I have been using flavored condoms, but I know the condom might not cover everything.  Is there any suggestions you may have?  I know that type 1 generally has less recurrances in the genitals, so I'm worried to get it on my mouth.  I also know that the virus lies dormant in the spine, does that mean that it can travel along nerves to my mouth area where type 1 normally is?  Can a virus reacctivate in a diff. place?

thanks!!!  

[gracefromHHP]

Your bf is actually more likely to have hsv1 orally and given it to you thru oral sex then he is to have it genitally and have given it to you thru genital to genital contact. It happens but not as often as oral to genital transmission does.  

What does this all mean for your relationship? it means - unless you have active genital symptoms, don't worry about. regardless of if your bf has hsv1 orally or genitally, regardless of if you have it only orally or also have it genitally - it's not an issue in this relationship.  Both of you have hsv1 in your bodies and it's going to give you both significant protection against contracting it on another body part later on. Get back to enjoying your sex life and don't let this bother either of you.

grace