HSV 1 - Genital

[cs0504]

I just found out I have HSV 1 - genital outbreak, and I am confused between this and HSV 2.
Questions:
1) Exactly how is it that I may have contracted this - through oral sex, or regular sex, or just from kissing someone, or is it possible it could be from any of these?
2) How can I pass this to others? I understand that HSV 1 is oral, but my outbreak was genital. Can I still pass this through saliva ie kissing? Or because my outbreak was genital can I only pass this through receiving oral sex? Can I pass this on through regular sex as well?

[gracefromHHP]

odds are you contracted it from him performing oral sex on you. it's the  most common way it's transmitted.

have you talked to your partner yet?

grace

[cs0504]

Thanks so much!

I had an outbreak that was then swabbed and that's how I found out these results. I received oral sex from someone and then slept with him, and a few days later I had the oubreak. According to what you said above I couldve gotten it from either receiving the oral sex or from the actual sex (depending on what type he has)  - is that correct? He had no signs of an oubreak then and still has none. He hasn't been tested yet so I'm not sure what type he has.

I am assuming it's from him, It just seems a little too coincidental that my symptoms showed up a few days after being intimate with him. However, is it possible that it's not i.e. that I contracted it from someone else months before and the sex this time maybe just triggered my outbreak?? How long does it generally take for symptoms to show?

[Mistakeguy789]

First how were you diagnoised with an HSV-1 Genital?

1.  You can get HSV-1 genital usually from Oral sex with a partner has an HSV-1 orally.  Now you can get it from genital sex with a person who has HSV-1 genital as well.  You don't get HSV-1 genital from kissing someone.  HSV is transmitted via direct skin to skin contact.

2.  HSV-1 is a of the two types in the genital area to have the less bothersome.  HSV-1 can be transmitted via skin to skin contact when a person is having an outbreak or when they are shedding the virus.  HSV-1 sheds less in the genital area (about 5% of days a year).  

Transmission is only going to happen when someone comes into contact with your genital area during an outbreak.  HSV-1 doesn't reoccur that often and for some never at all.  So kissing isn't going to cause a problem.  Just avoid sexual encounters when you are having an outbreak and you will be fine.  

You can read some good information on genital herpes by going to the free herpes handbook which is written by Terri Warren the MedHelp Herpes Expert and the owner of the Westover Heights Clinic.  She is also a Nurse Practitioner. The book can be found at www.westoverheights.com.

Please feel free to keep asking us questions.