Can someone with oral HSV-1 get it genitally?

My partner gave me genital HSV-1 through oral sex. He was asymptomatic and he had a blood test done to confirm that he already has (and has had for years) the HSV-1 antibodies. We are worried that intercourse would give him genital herpes as well. Is this likely? What are the chances?

[gracefromHHP]

It's possible but not probable. His own hsv1 infection gives him significant protection against contracting it on other body parts. Just avoid sex when you have genital symptoms and things should be fine .

grace

[jb_asquared]

Thank you so much for your reply. That's what I've always thought. We knew all of this but he's still not comfortable with it. We are young and are not on a supremely long-term track. He's afraid of getting it genitally and having the knowledge to pass it on to future partners... I don't know what to do. My thoughts are that he's immune to it so as long as I don't have an outbreak, it'll be okay. He has the antibodies and in his memory, he's never had a cold sore.

I guess what I'm looking for as an answer is that it's "impossible" or "nearly impossible" as reassurance that our relationship can continue. Feeling very undesirable...

[Thora126]

jb, it's very unlikely. Use a condom during intercourse, and avoid sex with you're having an outbreak. You'll be fine. There's something like a <2% chance of him contracting it. His body is already immune to the virus you'd be giving him. He's just being a silly boy.

I remember when I first got a coldsore, my boyfriend wanted to rush to every doctor in the country and be tested for genital herpes the next day......sigh. Silly creature

[Thora126]

For your sake, and his, you can take a one-a-day anti viral. Your outbreaks will be less frequent and shorter, and the chances of him getting it will be significantly less (than they already are).

[jb_asquared]

Thank you, Thora. I just feel like being on antiviral medication is too much. I haven't had any recurrences; it's still too early to tell. I have HSV-1 and I know that most people don't have another outbreak.

And the thing about chances being less than 2%... Well, it was already very unlikely for him to pass it to me when he's asymptomatic so who's to say that this very unlikely thing can happen to us again? We're pretty confident that he gave it to me. I haven't had another partner for about a year and I (or anyone in my family) don't have a history of cold sores.

[gracefromHHP]

When it comes to hsv1 genitally, about 1/2 of folks never get another ob. of those who do, the average is 1 additional ob the first year and then 1 ob every other year. Not many folks with hsv1 genitally get ob's more often. it also only sheds about 3% of days ( comes out to about a dozen days total in a year ) so the chances of having sex on one of the days where you are shedding without any obvious lesions is pretty darn slim.  We don't have info on suppressive therapy and reduction in transmission to a partner with hsv1 either, only hsv2.  Most folks with hsv1 genitally don't get enough bang for their buck to make it worth taking medication suppressively for herpes.  


your bf isn't thinking very rationally ( he's being selfish actually ). He still needs to be talking about his hsv1 oral infection with future partners. hsv1 orally sheds more often than hsv1 genitally and is far more likely to be transmitted to a partner. he's caught up in the IDEA that genital herpes must be worse than oral herpes at this point.  Hopefully the two of you can work this out and get back to "normal".

grace

[jb_asquared]

It wasn't enough. We broke up instead.

[gracefromHHP]

Sorry to hear that :(  

Hang in there - are you leaning on your gf's for support?

grace

[inshock123]

That *****.. i was with a girl and she thinks I gave her genital HSV1 through oral sex.  I only had a small crack in my lip that i thought was just chapped lips.
She was the best thing that ever happened to me, and broke up with me because she definitely thought it was due to me.  
Afterwards I had HSV1 outbreaks on my lips, which i never had before... Its a miserable thought to think that I was the cause, but even worse to break up because of it and not even be sure that i was the source...