HSV 1

[Concerned705]

I was diagnosed with HSV 1 gential and only had one outbreak.  My partner has had cold sores since childhood but doesnt call it HSV 1 orally.  So what are our chances of giving it orally to me and genital to him?   Can we get the same type somewhere in Can we perform oral sex on one another and not give each other anything since we both have HSV?  Please let me know.

Thanks

Concerned

[Ophelia23]

I was also just diagnosed with HSV-1 genital! We are in a similar boat ^__^

Your question is somewhat difficult to answer. If you have HSV-1 oral, you can still get it genitally, though there is a reduced risk. Likewise, if you have it genitally, you could still get it orally, though again, the risk is reduced.

Basically, your risk of giving it to him genitally is rather low, because HSV-1 genital does not spread easily (it only sheds about 3-5% of the time, compared to 15-20% of the time for HSV-2 genital). I would recommend using condoms anyway.

His risk of giving it to you orally is also rather low, because you probably have antibodies to it from having it genitally. You also may actually have oral HSV-1 without symptoms.

Bottom line: the risk for both of you is rather low, but use condoms anyway.

[Concerned705]

So if he performs oral sex on me and he has hsv oral nothing will happen to him?  I dont have it oral so unless I have an outbreak orally he will be ok?  And our chances sexually  are low with or without condoms?  Just tryng to understand the risk and thanks for your help

[gracefromHHP]

his cold sores are most likely hsv1 orally.  cold sores/fever blisters are oral herpes and 97% of the time they are due to hsv1.  His own hsv1 oral infection gives him significant protection against contracting hsv1 genitally.  Typically in a situation like yours, just avoiding sex anytime you have anything going on genitally is all it takes.  Be sure to get him tested for hsv2 as well as other std's before ditching condoms though.

He already has hsv1 orally so he won't get it from you "worse" or anything like that.

grace

[Concerned705]

Now if he performs oral sex on me is he safe because he has oral hsv1?  And if I perform oral sex on him do I get oral hsv1?  Basically since we both have hsv1 but one has the oral and one genital can we give it to the other somewhere else?

[Concerned705]

Can you please help answer the question I posted earlier, anyone?

[gracefromHHP]

I really do sleep sometimes ;)

Unless you get obvious cold sores to know it, no easy ( or cheap ) way to know if you also contracted hsv1 orally when you contracted your genital hsv1. The majority of folks who contract hsv1 orally don't get obvious cold sores to know it.  Same with a good portion of folks who have hsv1 genitally, also have it orally.  No reason to worry about getting hsv1 orally though if you don't have it already. If you are concerned, don't kiss him when he has obvious cold sores and that alone will go a long way.  Having hsv1 on one body part gives you significant protection from contracting it on another body part.

grace

[Concerned705]

Sorry I now u have to sleep, I am just trying to understand it all.  I am more worried about him.  Some questions are still unclear:

1.  Since he has oral hsv1 can he perform oral sex on me and doesnt have to worry about anything because he has oral hsv1 already?
2. If someone had hsv1 in one place of the body can they catch it in the other?
3. I have had only one outbreak in 4 years of having this what are the chances of me giving it to someone oral or gential?

thanks for your help

[gracefromHHP]

genital hsv1 sheds about 3% of days. that means it's about a dozen days out of the year total that the virus is active and can be potentially transmitted to a partner.  the odds of having sex on one of those days too is pretty low.

You and your partner have no worries at all. Just avoid sex whenever you have obvious genital symptoms.

grace

[Concerned705]

Hi Grace,

Sorry to keep bothering you with my questions but I went to teh handbook you suggest to people and  it really doesnt give me to much detail.  I just want to get some other things clear please:

1.  If I have gential hsv1 and my partner does not have either type what are the chances he will get it.  You stated before that gential only sheds about 12 days a year so would he be ok during sex and oral sex?  Also that gential to gential is rare to get with type1 so also would he be ok unless I was shredding?  Please be specific I am just trying to understand it all.  

2.  If I already have gential hsv1 can I get oral hsv1?

Thanks for you help!

[gracefromHHP]

Unless you got obvious cold sores around the time that you contracted hsv1 genitally, no easy way to know if you also contracted it orally at the same time. most folks who have hsv1 orally don't get obvious cold sores to know it.  The few studies done on it only looked at obvious cold sores and a signifcant percentage of folks infected with hsv1 genitally also contracted it orally around the same time.  If you didn't happen to also contract it orally, the odds that you will are pretty low. Having hsv1 on one body part gives you significant protection against contracting it on another body part later on.

Even if your partner is hsv1 negative, it's still low risk of transmitting your hsv1 genital infection to them.

grace