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Genital HSV 1 risks and possibility of transmitting

Hello. I was recently dx by culture wtih hsv 1. I am coping okay with the dignoses since through research I know that most of the population has oral hsv 1. (When I found out i was devastated but have encrusted the fact that its just cold sores in my head).

A few questions I would like answers on: (again this is for my peace of mind and the fact that ive become overly paranoid since being diagnosed)

1. My current partner is negative for both. Since hsv 1 prefers the mouth how likely am i to pass this on to him. When I informed him that i had hsv 1 he assumed it was oral and I left it at that. He seemed a little turned off when I told him :( but it had to be done.

2. I am looking to get pregnant. I have read that transmission to a baby is unlikely for people who are diagnosed before pregnancy. Is this true? Will my baby contract antibodies and then be hsv 1+. How does that work? I would feel very bad and would not forgive myself if I brought a baby into this world and he/she contracts my virus. Does this effect the baby while in utero? What if my water breaks, how protected will the baby be?

3. I am not on valtrex because i was told that recurrences for ghsv1 is uncommon although i might expect to get 1 every year or so but others might not get any at all? Is this true?

4. How about shedding? My bf and I like to fondle each other before getting intimate. Would he be at risks from this? We have been using condoms but what if once day I chose not to use a condom i.e. when we decide we want to have a baby?

5. What if my partner gives me oral sex. Will he contract the virus on his mouth?

6. Is ghsv 1 better to have then ohsv 1? Why do people make such a big deal out of it. Emotionally this has impacted my way of thinking. Even though physically I feel that every itch down there is related to this. I have even had tingling on my arm which I related to this and my gyn said I was focusing on this too much when it really isnt a big deal.

7. I informed my ex about my diagnoses and he said hes been negative and has never had a cold sore. The last one he remembers was 5 years ago so yes he has oral hsv 1 whether he wanted to admit it or not.

8. Im afraid I might have contracted it orally as well since my ex and I kissed a lot but from reading the forums it says that unless theres an opening for the virus to enter than it is unlikely to have caught i at the same time as genital.

I really dont want this to impact my life so much. I want to be able to live normally, have crazy sex with my bf like I use to, it just seems like I wont be able to do much of that now since Im always freaking out.
Can someone please answer my questions. I have seen forums posted from grace and petal who have been very reassuring.
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Avatar universal
Hi Grace, I've been looking online to see if there are any statistics on the transmission of genital to genital and genital to oral for hsv 1 and I'm having a hard time finding it. Is this because its rare?

I know you said because of its low recurrence and shedding rate my partner would not contract it genitally or orally if he gives me oral sex but then theres that little risks still?

Im trying to look at it as a small thing but its so HARD :-(
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
Less than 10% of hsv1 genital infections are from genital to genital contact. it happens, but not often.  Many folks are led astray from their under educated providers about how they contracted it and many are even improperly tested for herpes :(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know it just sucks. My main fear is transmission because I have read on forums here that say they have caught it genital to genital and then theres some that say its unlikely :(

Its been so hard to take in because I know I cant do anything about it just to keeo educating myself.

What this has done for me is that its made me see people differently espiecially guys.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004


some people hear herpes and you might as well have the rest of the conversation in classic greek after you say herpes. we've been taught to fear herpes and other std's, no one takes the time to really properly educate us on them so many folks assume the attitude of no way , now how and can't deal with it.   if this fellow can't deal with it, time to move on. Perhaps in time he'll realize just how common it is and how silly he was to walk away from someone so honest about what they know they have  :)
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Avatar universal
I know it wasn't a good idea but after not shaving ever since I was diagnosed I felt like i had too! :( I would feel much more comfortable with you as my GYN Grace. You have eased me a bit in coming to terms with this.

My new partner has resented me a bit and we dont talk as usual :( When I told him about it he said he does not want to contract anything and might consider moving on.

I told him how common hsv 1 was and he said its not so common if he doesnt have it. As you can see im hurt and dont know what to do but I keep re-reading the posts to help me come back to my senses.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
numbness in the arm isn't related to genital herpes. follow up properly on it with your regular provider.

shaving your genital area when you have itching is never a good idea :( you risk spreading whatever was going on as well as you contaminate your razor.   it could be any number of things going on but it doesn't sound like a herpes recurrence. follow up with an exam and proper testing for vaginitis when you can.
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Avatar universal
Yea I figured it was irritation due to the fact that it just itched in one particular area and it resembled dead skin like when a pimple drys and peels. I'm just afraid if being more contagious :( lol I know it sounds crazy but ive become overly paranoid and ocd'ish. I'm coming to terms with this little by little. Its on my mind constantly and whenever I see couples with their children or expecant moms i get sad because this would be a worry for me and I cant imagine not being even more paranoid about transmission to both baby and new partner.  I have my days when I want to cry and beat the hell out of my ex. He still denies having cold sores and it pisses me off.

My GYN wasnt very nice about this. I wanted to go get tested for the 3 month mark and for all the other std's and she said it was too soon and I had to wait until July or August. I was dx in January and wanted to test now. I tested for HIV and it was negative. She said thats a given negative since it was during the two months of being dx with ghsv1. I was dx by a swab at another GYN's office when I wenr to get a second opinion.

I know once the swab confirms it that is it :'( I am not on valtrex but have been feeling numbness in my left arm. Can this be related to something else? I have not fractured it or anything. I went to my primary PCP and he tested me for possible stroke symptoms but said I was too young to have one. Im only 23.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sounds a lot like irritation. Maybe it's time to stop picking the pubic hair area! GHSV1 recurrs very infrequently, meaning that it would be unusual for you to get another outbreak anytime soon. You were diagnosed through swab, right?

You can't be sure you have oral HSV1 unless you get obvious cold sores. But assuming you do have it, it sheds from the mouth area, just like genital herpes shed from the genital area.

Your doctor is wayyy outdated. Almost 80% of the population will get hsv1 at some time of their lives - and you don't see all those people worried about it, right? Otherwise, 80% of the population would not even share a kiss! lol that's non-sense.
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Avatar universal
Alao grace sorry for being such a pest. Assuming that i have oral hsv 1 is it in my saliva? My doc made it seem like i had to wash.everything i use because.it..spreads.quickly :( im so depressed.about this and cried myself to sleep last night :'(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yea she just made me feel disgusting :(

I want to go get checked because i have been very itchy aroung my pubic Hair. I shaved a little to have a clearer look and noticed dead white skin. You know when skin heals it forms New skin and the dead skin falls off.

I peeled one of by mistake to see what it was and it bled a little.

Is this prodome or just irritation? I try not to scratch so i usually pat it or wash with my female hygiene soap.

Also does ghsv1 cause any long term damage? Ever since being diagnosed my left arm has been numb and tingly. I went to a nuerologists and she said.everything is fine and not to worry. But the.numbness persists :( can this be related to something else? i hope i havent contracted anything else. I tested negative for hiv 2 weeks ago.
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
it's really unfortunate that your provider isn't up to date on herpes knowledge and is giving erroneous info :(

ok to see her for a routine girlie parts check to look for vaginitis though for faster answers as to what is going on now.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi grace sorry for being so persistent. Its just so much info to take in and accept.

I was thinking of changing my GYN as she is giving me contradictory information.

She told me that I am always shedding and will get recurrences more than usual. She said.ghsv.1 and ghsv 2 are no different and act the.same. That I will never be able to have sex without.a condom and that I am a risk to other people. She made me feel contagious and I have lost a bit of my confidence as well.as self esteem. I was told not to drink or use the same utensils as others and that I cant kiss because im shedding in my.saliva and.will need to take valtrex suppressive as it is required.for all hsv patients

from the information youve provided.and what ive read on these.forums.shes wrong.

Im so sad.and.depressed.:'(
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
patience  :)


no, you aren't going to get herpes encephalitis, meningitis or occular herpes.  

yes, your sex life will be the same. unless you have an active herpes recurrence, absolutely nothing different about having sex with your partner.

totally up to the two of you if you want to have unprotected sex together or not. you have to discuss it together and make that decision.

the rates of hsv2 transmission to a partner aren't the same as hsv1. Hsv1 genitally transmission rates are far less. we don't have stats for it like we do hsv2 since it happens so infrequently.  we have no studies that show if daily suppressive therapy reduces transmission of hsv1 to partners or not.

your hsv1 has no bearing on your working with hiv+ clients.  


if you are still having itching, go to be seen again and get another exam and tested for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally too.


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Avatar universal
Can someone pls answer my posts pls :'(
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Avatar universal
Sorry for posting a lot grace but I just read this in one of the forums (as you can tell I am reading on this too much)

On a furm you had posted:
"you can get hsv1 from your partner but the risk of such is very low. having hsv2 seems to provide significant protection from contracting hsv1 but not vice versa.

If you and your partner do nothing but avoid sex anytime you have anything going on genitally, he's 96% likely each year not to contract hsv2 from you.  If you take daily suppressive therapy and avoid sex when you have symptoms, he's 98% likely not to contract hsv2 from you. throw in condoms and it's a 99% likelihood that he won't contract hsv2 from you each year. Up to the 2 of you if you think it's worth using condoms or not or if you just want to use suppressive therapy and avoid sex during any genital symptoms"

does this also apply to people with genital hsv 1? If it is the case then transmission of genital to genital is highly unlikely.

Pls help! I am going crazy :(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also lets say I did contract it orally am I at risks.for ocular herpes or the herpes going up to my brain?

Also if I did contract it orally why did I break out in my genitals instead of my mouth?

This is driving me crazy now :(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Im trying to get peace of mind. Sex with my boyfriend isnt the same anymore :( im always freaking out and sometimes make an excuse to stop.

Can I have sex normally like I use to? My bf likes.having sex with me and this has been really hard on us, well for me :(

I dont want him to leave me because we cant have sex like we use to.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much Grace that was very helpful!

I guess im really afraid of transmitting this to my partner and future baby :( its hard to take in the information. Ive never in a million years imagined I would catch something but im thankful it isnt terminal. Im trying to take in the fact that its a minor skin condition that comes and goes.

Some more questions:

1. Since the risks is low am I safe to have unprotected sex with my partner?
2. HIV is related to hsv 2 not hsv 1 right? Im afraid I might catch something because I work with HIV+ clients. I know the virus isnt airborne but my clients are sick and when I have my one on ones they usually cough and touch my things.
3. In regards to suppression my GYN told me it wouldnt hurt to take valtrex because it will lessen transmission. But I havent had another outbreak just a lot of itching on my pubic hair. Is this a sign of prodome?
Helpful - 0
101028 tn?1419603004
unless you get obvious cold sores, no easy way to know if you only have it genitally or if you also contracted it orally.  What few studies on this we have show that anywhere from 1/4 -2/3's of folks who have hsv1 genitally , also have it orally.  

When it comes to pregnancy, since you contracted hsv1 genitally prior to pregnancy, the only risk is during delivery. No obvious lesions at the time of delivery, the risk of transmission to the baby is less than 1%. Should you have an obvious recurrence near the time of delivery, a c section will be performed to best protect the baby.

do you need daily suppressive therapy for hsv1 genitally? no, not really. It doesn't shed much at all - less than a dozen days total out of the year. It doesn't reoccur very often for folks either so over all it won't be a big disruption in your sex life nor will it be a big transmission risk to a partner.  

can your partner contract hsv1 orally from performing oral on you? he can but the risk is overall very low. Hsv1 genitally sheds very little in general and he's not more likely to contract it orally just because that's the area of the body  hsv1 typically prefers.

keep asking questions!

grace
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