How do I know how long I've had Herpes.

[theunknown509]

     Im a male and recently found out that I was exposed to HSV1. It was about 4.9 in my blood.I dont recall having any outbreaks at all and my doctor said that I should be fine. SHe said not to worry and always have protected sex. She made it seems like it's not a big deal at all because I'm not showing symptoms. But It kills me to know that there's still a chance that I might be passing it to someone else and I don't want to do that to anyone.
I have a partner that I love very much and before we decided to have unprotected sex, we both got tested for STD and HIV/AIDS and we were clean. But we never checked for HSV1 or 2. Now I dont know If I have passed it down to her yet as she's in the process of getting tested.
My question is How can you tell how long you've attracted the virus? How do you live with it thinking that something is not right about you? Thinking that you're limited sexually? Can you actually move on and date and have a family? Will that have any birth defects?
I am just taking it hard, I sometimes find myself crying thinking about it because I feel like that's it for me. And If by chance my partner does not have it, I think that I should break up with her in order to not pass down anything to her. What do you think.. Please help. My doctor is acting too vague about it and tell me to not worry but I just cant.
Also is there any innovative research being done for a cure because I just cant stand to leave like that for the rest of my life

[theunknown509]

Thank You so much,
Your answer make me so much at peace now.

[castello80]

Your doctor is ridiculous by saying you always need to have protected sex especially with HSV-1. Most of the population carries HSV-1 orally (cold sores), and most of them are infected as a child. You can assume you have HSV-1 orally if you've never had genital symptoms. You are only contagious from your mouth, not your genitals, so there is no need for protected genital-to-genital sex. You should discuss with your partner if protected oral sex is worth it or not since she is at risk of getting it genitally (if she doesn't have it orally) from you. There's no way to tell how long you've had the virus at this point, but most likely you've had it since you were a child. Most people with HSV-1 don't get recurring symptoms, so you're in the norm.

How can people have a family/kids with HSV-1? Are you serious? Check it, 57-90% of the U.S. population is infected with HSV-1 or cold sores, and they're able to date, have kids, have sex, or whatever whenever they want. You might have to use precautions when giving your g/f oral sex, but there's at least a 50% chance that she has it too, and if she does then she won't get it again. Bro, you're normal since the majority of the American population has HSV-1. Your current/future partners most likely have it too. Seriously, you have absolutely nothing to worry about, man. Only 10% of Americans make it out of life without getting HSV-1 (cold sores), so you were most likely bound to get this sooner or later.