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HSV1 oral potentially spread to genitals
Hi there I have a few questions about HSV1 oral and the transmission of it orally. I have had cold sores for at least 20 years and 2 years ago I had a test to confirm positive for HSV1 and negative for HSV2. At the start of the year I believe I contracted HSV1 in a new spot and started taking Acyclovir 2x a day since April to lessen the frequency. I believe I had my first outbreak on therapy at the end of July and it was so mild I wasnt sure I even did...but I could feel the area get hot, but no blister ever formed. I told the woman I am dating that I potentially had a cold sore but she didnt care and demanded I kiss her. We kissed a lot and 3 days later she got a small cold sore on her lip - the first she had ever had. She went to her doctor and it was confirmed that it was HSV1. It quickly went away and she hasn't had anything since then. Last weekend, about 1 month after her exposure we got together again and we were careful about spreading our HSV1 to our genitals. Neither of us have any cold sores. I used a dental dam on her and she didnt perform oral sex on me. There are a few things that we did do that I am a little concerned about. She kissed my body all over, buttocks, inner thigh and a little on my lower testicles and a bit on the skin next to my testicles on inner hips. I kissed her all over and licked her thru her panties with a lot of saliva (they stayed on). I also used my spit/saliva to wet her clitoris. Following what I read online (but seems to be not clear) that herpes is spread thru skin and skin contact I allowed myself to expose her to my saliva...but now I'm a little worried. Are we at any risk based on the actions described? Also what is the difference between our length of exposure to HSV1- I have had it for many years and am on therapy and she is 1 month since her exposure. How likely are asymptomatic exposures based on our timelines. How immune are we to getting HSV1 genitally? Lastly I was tested for HSV2 2 weeks ago (for peace of mind) and my doctor said I had had no exposure. I've never had a genital outbreak, but there are times I've had a dry penis or spots of irritation...but never a grouping of blisters. How reliable is that test now that I have been on suppressive therapy for 3 months. I'm not worried about exposure from the current woman I'm seeing, just peace of mind of from years before her.
Thank you for your time.
N
Thank you for your time.
N
Once you have HSV-1 in one location you are immune or at the very least, highly, highly resistant to catching it in another location. According to Dr. Handsfield, this is especially true since both of you have the same strain of HSV-1 (her cold sore came from your cold sore).
Many physicians are not educated thoroughly on herpes, so for future reference you should look at posts on here in the community forum as well as posts in the Herpes/STD expert forum, which include the top STD and Herpes experts in the country. Many uneducated physicians think that herpes can be spread to multiple locations, and that is not the case. The only time this is the case is during the primary outbreak because your body doesn't have antibodies to fight and recognize the virus, but after a few weeks sufficient antibodies are built up in your system, which prevent you from getting HSV-1 in other locations. As Terri Warren (top herpes expert) has summarized, since many babies get cold sores and are prone to touching all parts of their bodies, you'd think that we'd see a ton of babies walking around with HSV-1 on their genitals from touching their cold sore then genitals. However, we absolutely do not see this happening ever.
It's probably best to avoid performing oral sex if you have an active cold sore since there are other bacteria that could infest itself and this could delay the process of the cold sore healing if it's split open from oral sex. With that said, you aren't going to get it genitally even if you did get oral sex during your partner's cold sore outbreak since your antibodies recognize the virus and prevent it from entering other locations. Also, performing oral sex with a cold sore would be uncomfortable.
So many people have HSV-1 and most don't know it and even those that do know they have it do not have an obligation to tell others before kissing. The people you are kissing probably have HSV-1 orally as well and won't catch it again from you. There's no need to tell before kissing unless you had an obvious oozing cold sore. HSV-1 prevalence is as follows according to the best study available, NHANES IV: 20-29 year olds: 54%, 30-39 year olds: 64%, 40-49 year olds: 65%. The HSV-1 prevalence broken down further into ethnicity is as follows (according to NHANES IV):
Whites:
20-29: 46%
30-39: 56%
40-49: 59%
Blacks:
20-29: 56%
30-39: 75%
40-49: 80%
Latinos:
20-29: 80%
30-39: 86%
40-49: 89%
Grace's recommendation about telling those of their HSV-1 status before oral sex is very, very generous considering most don't tell prior to oral sex. It's up to you what you want to do, but from my standpoint, I think it's best to tell before oral sex as Grace does. People are bound to get HSV-1 at some point of their lives anyway, and according to the NHANES study, by 70 years of age and older, 90% of us will test positive for HSV-1.
Many physicians are not educated thoroughly on herpes, so for future reference you should look at posts on here in the community forum as well as posts in the Herpes/STD expert forum, which include the top STD and Herpes experts in the country. Many uneducated physicians think that herpes can be spread to multiple locations, and that is not the case. The only time this is the case is during the primary outbreak because your body doesn't have antibodies to fight and recognize the virus, but after a few weeks sufficient antibodies are built up in your system, which prevent you from getting HSV-1 in other locations. As Terri Warren (top herpes expert) has summarized, since many babies get cold sores and are prone to touching all parts of their bodies, you'd think that we'd see a ton of babies walking around with HSV-1 on their genitals from touching their cold sore then genitals. However, we absolutely do not see this happening ever.
It's probably best to avoid performing oral sex if you have an active cold sore since there are other bacteria that could infest itself and this could delay the process of the cold sore healing if it's split open from oral sex. With that said, you aren't going to get it genitally even if you did get oral sex during your partner's cold sore outbreak since your antibodies recognize the virus and prevent it from entering other locations. Also, performing oral sex with a cold sore would be uncomfortable.
So many people have HSV-1 and most don't know it and even those that do know they have it do not have an obligation to tell others before kissing. The people you are kissing probably have HSV-1 orally as well and won't catch it again from you. There's no need to tell before kissing unless you had an obvious oozing cold sore. HSV-1 prevalence is as follows according to the best study available, NHANES IV: 20-29 year olds: 54%, 30-39 year olds: 64%, 40-49 year olds: 65%. The HSV-1 prevalence broken down further into ethnicity is as follows (according to NHANES IV):
Whites:
20-29: 46%
30-39: 56%
40-49: 59%
Blacks:
20-29: 56%
30-39: 75%
40-49: 80%
Latinos:
20-29: 80%
30-39: 86%
40-49: 89%
Grace's recommendation about telling those of their HSV-1 status before oral sex is very, very generous considering most don't tell prior to oral sex. It's up to you what you want to do, but from my standpoint, I think it's best to tell before oral sex as Grace does. People are bound to get HSV-1 at some point of their lives anyway, and according to the NHANES study, by 70 years of age and older, 90% of us will test positive for HSV-1.
A friend of mine always discusses his oral herpes prior to kissing someone. He has never been turned down yet !!!
I personally don't discuss my hsv1 oral infection until oral sex is an issue. If someone would ask I would be completely honest with them. it's just the choice I made and even though some have criticized me as being hypocritical about not discussing it prior to kissing. It's the choice I have made for myself. It's totally up to you when you discuss it with a partner.
I personally don't discuss my hsv1 oral infection until oral sex is an issue. If someone would ask I would be completely honest with them. it's just the choice I made and even though some have criticized me as being hypocritical about not discussing it prior to kissing. It's the choice I have made for myself. It's totally up to you when you discuss it with a partner.
Hi there Grace its been 4 or so months and Im finding myself still nervous about giving women/friends HSV1 oral(cold sores) Its funny that I have had this since my 20s and always handled it as no big deal as long as I dont have a sore on my lip. I have kissed freely, performed oral and never had a thought. But for some reason I cant seem to shake the worry about possible infecting someone. The incident where I gave the woman i was seeing cold sores even though I am on suppression therapy and with no visible outbreak( but i could feel something minor) has really messed with my head. I feel that i need to tell someone anyone remotely intimate with that I get cold sores even though i dont have an active one. A first kiss is so important yet now I feel i have to disclose...and the moment will be gone. Almost feels like HSV2 would be easier. On top of this there seems to be contradictory info about the immunity to HSV1 oral/genital if both people have HSV1. Got it was easier when I wasnt aware of so much. How do I deal with this? Do i disclose before every kiss? And many people dont know that oral can be transmitted genitally...so now i have to explain this...making myself seem even more of a headache than its worth. Please give me some insight to this. Thanks so much. 43 year old male.
N
N
you don't need to have protected oral sex from a hsv1 standpoint.
romantic type kisses and oral sex are the ways that oral herpes is transmitted. it can be present in saliva but it's not a good way to transmit it to another. if you were thinking as saliva as lube, we never recommend that since what is "normal" bacteria in the oral area isn't "normal" in the genital area and can cause infections, especially yeast infections.
romantic type kisses and oral sex are the ways that oral herpes is transmitted. it can be present in saliva but it's not a good way to transmit it to another. if you were thinking as saliva as lube, we never recommend that since what is "normal" bacteria in the oral area isn't "normal" in the genital area and can cause infections, especially yeast infections.
Thank you grace for getting back to me. If possible could I get more clarification on some of the points of my post. It seems there is so much contradictory info on how easy/hard HSV1 is to pass on. Are you saying that asymptomatic shedding isnt an issue because we both have HSV1 and oral sex is ok without protection and there are no worries of genital HSV1? Also is it your view that HSV1 cant be passed thru saliva...it needs skin to skin contact. I ask to get further understanding of my own contagiousness with uninfected partners...
Thanks again,
N
Thanks again,
N
was your partner ever tested for herpes before this?
hsv1 is no longer an issue in your relationship if indeed she really does have it. if either of you has an active cold sore, we don't recommend performing oral on the other until it's healed just to be overly cautious. no need for any other precautions from a hsv1 standpoint.
grace
hsv1 is no longer an issue in your relationship if indeed she really does have it. if either of you has an active cold sore, we don't recommend performing oral on the other until it's healed just to be overly cautious. no need for any other precautions from a hsv1 standpoint.
grace
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
