HSV1 genital transmission question

[tabletalk]

I am a female and have just been diagnosed with HSV1 infection of the genitals via a swab of a vulvar blister--(it was negative for HSV2, thankfully). It is my first outbreak and cleared up quickly after a few doses of Valtrex. My IgG blood tests are still negative for both HSV1 and HSV2, so I haven't seroconverted yet. I have never had a sore or ulcer in my mouth. My question is: can I safely perform oral sex on an uninfected male partner without fear of infecting him with HSV1? What about kissing him?  Remember, the outbreak only occurred on my genital area, not my mouth.
Would you recommend continuing the Valtrex after my outbreak dose is complete?
Thank you for your help.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I'm so sorry, your post got lost along the line somewhere.  

When you ask if you are infectious from your mouth, I will have to make  few assumptions.  The first assumption is that you are newly infected and you are only infected genitally.  If you've had no oral symptoms, you might have this genitally only.  In which case, you would be safe giving oral sex to someone else.  If your husband has HSV 1 orally, then if you have intercourse with him you won't give him infection genitally; at least it is extremely unlikely.  

The antibody test for HSV 1 misses one of of 10 cases, so if you have an antibody test, and I don't see any reason for you to do so at all, it might still be negative but I would trust the positive swab test over the antibody test for HSV 1.  

Does that help?  Do you have other questions?

Terri

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

We can know when you are shedding virus.  People shed virus even when they have no symptoms at all that they can detect.  But again, in the case of having sex with your husband, it probably doesn't matter.

Terri

[tabletalk]

Thanks so much for the response, Ms. Warren. Yes, that is helpful and it was the answer I was hoping for. It has been a week now since the final scabs fell off and the skin underneath is still a bit discolored…is this normal? I shouldn't be shedding the virus anymore should I? I just finished my 10th day on Valtrex as well.

[tabletalk]

Just so the waters aren't muddied, I am still waiting for a professional to answer  my original question:  Can I safely perform oral sex (not the other way around) on an uninfected partner in the event I reenter the dating world some day? Never had a cold sore, only genital lesions. Thank you.

[tabletalk]

I think I was exposed about two weeks prior to my outbreak. I first noticed two blisters on Feb 11, and more a few days after that.  (assuming it is from my husband who "thinks" he had a cold sore).  My first swab was negative on Feb 17 but the doctor could not get a good tissue sample, so I don't attribute much meaning to that, and my IgG blood test was negative for both. Then I got two new blisters on Feb 21 and the old ones weren't healing so I had my doctor swab me again on Feb 24. This time the new blister tested positive for HSV1. I plan to repeat the IgG blood test in 8 more weeks…which would be about 14 weeks post exposure. My doctor recommends 4 weeks, but I am going to give it more time.
Hope this helps. The whole thing has been very annoying and I really hope that I never get a cold sore in my mouth. I am going to keep some Valtrex on hand and use it if I ever have a sign of an outbreak again.

[Bigtimeworried55]

Just curious, how long since last exposure or suspected exposure did you swab positive? How long since the exposure did you blood test and still show negative?

Curious because I'm still negative via blood at 12 weeks and just recently did a swab pending results. Your answer would be beneficial.