Genital HSV-1

[ylime3]

Hello--
I am in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend and we therefore have given each other permission to sleep with other people occasionally. He slept with another girl a few weeks ago and unfortunately he has just been diagnosed with HSV-1 in his genitals. From what I've read it seems like it is very unlikely that I will get it from him? Is this true? Also is it ok to have sex without a condom if neither of us have any other STDs? I know we obviously shouldn't if he has an outbreak but if he doesn't can we have sex without a condom? Also, can I still give him oral sex unprotected or would that cause cold sores in my mouth? I really am just worried that I will contract the virus and would like to avoid it.

[gracefromHHP]

if you test  + for hsv1 and can't recall symptoms either orally or genitally, odds are it is oral for you. If you have hsv1 on one body part, you have significant protection against contracting hsv1 on other body parts.

[ylime3]

I have not been tested. If I do test positively for having HSV-1 it would probably  be orally right? And if so it would be more difficult for him to pass it to me genitally?

[gracefromHHP]

have you been tested to know your own status?

also since your partner had unprotected sexual contact with someone else, consider using barrier protection for all sexual contact until he's been able to follow up properly on his std testing too.

[ylime3]

They did a swab from the sore

[bobrope45]

You need to learn if the positive HSV1 result as from a swab (when they swab the sore and run a culture on it) or from blood test. After you get such results, post them here so that Grace can take a look.
We ask you that because hsv1 is very common and therefore you might get a positive result and only have it orally, not genitally. So testing gets kinda confusing when it comes to genital hsv1.

[ylime3]

He was tested for chlamydia and herpes and told he has HSV-1

[gracefromHHP]

so what testing did our partner have done?

grace

[ylime3]

He was having pain urinating and flu-like symptoms and the doctor said he had a sore in his urethra and it was type one herpes. I know the situation may sound like we're "running around having sex with strangers" but it's not really like that--this was more of a one time thing and was protected but he didn't know you could get it from unprotected oral sex especially if the other person didn't have symptoms. (I didn't know that either--so at least we learned something...) So if I do already have HSV-1 in my system, which I know is very common and maybe I have never shown symptoms like a cold sore or whatever, does that mean I can't get it in my genitals from him? Or its less likely?

[slacker101]

I have a question, what made him think he had genital herpes1? Just curious if he came down with symptoms or if he just got super paranoid and figured he would get tested and when it came back as positive HSV1, he assumed it was genital. Have you ever been tested for Herpes? If not, go get tested just to see if you have HSV1 as most people do. If you already carry the virus, you both are immuned from ever catching it again so you don't have to worry about that. It disturbs me that you both are running around having sex with strangers. There are far greater worries out there than herpes so be careful. ALWAYS use a condom!! It protects a lot but not  everything.

[Chelsey92]

HSV 1 and 2 is transmitted from skin to skin contact.  So having unprotected sex or oral sex with him is not a good idea because you are putting yourself at risk.  Have your bf talk to his Dr. about taking Valtrex which lessen the shedding of the virus and transmission to you.  Keep in mind he doesn't have to have a sore, symptoms and can use a condom and still pass it to you, so once again have him seek medical advice from his Dr. on what he should do to lessen his outbreaks and protect you.  Best of luck to you.