I need you help!

Both my girlfriend and I have contracted HSV-1 oral herpes before.  One day, she did oral sex for me. but I found my girlfriend was in outbreak of HSV-1 oral herpes and there were some blisters on her lip. I worried if I can be infected with HSV-1 genital herpes. Thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

you can be but the risk is very low.  having hsv1 orally gives you significant protection against contracting hsv1 on other body parts.

unless you get genital symptoms within the next few weeks, nothing to worry about.

grace

[onlyone222]

I want to know if the statement (having hsv1 orally gives you significant protection against contracting hsv1 on other body parts. ) is related to the outbreak of HSV-1 oral herpes of my girlfriend. I mean if my grilfriend is in HSV-1 oral herpes outbreak, I can contract HSV-1 genital herpes when she do oral-sex for me. If my girlfriend is not in outbreak, I can't contract it.  Thanks.

[onlyone222]

Hi Grace,
The reason that I asked above question is that I saw many reply by you and the experts. All of you have same opinion " Once you are infected at one location with HSV1, it is highly unlikely that you would contract the same virus in a new location". But you also mentioned" Just avoid contact with an area when an outbreak is present".  
So I have the question: Since I have antibody of the virus (HSV-1 for example), why do I avoid to contact with my girlfriend's area when an outbreak is present?  It looks a little bit contradictory.

[gracefromHHP]

err on the side of caution is why we say it. why risk fate by being in contact with active virus?

also your gf performing oral on you when she has an active cold sore can irritate it and make it last longer for her along with it's an open wound and the "normal" bacteria in the urogenital area, isn't so normal when it's introduced into an open wound so it's for her protection too.

make sense?

[onlyone222]

Dear Grace,
Thanks for your reply.
So in your opinion, the conclusion { Once you are infected at one location with HSV1, it is highly unlikely that you would contract the same virus in a new location} will not be influenced by the outbreak of HSV-1.  

[onlyone222]

Dear Grace,
Thanks for your reply.
My understanding is: in your opinion, whether the virus(HSV-1) of girlfriend is in outbreak or not will not influcence the conclusion  { Once you are infected at one location with HSV1, it is highly unlikely that you would contract the same virus in a new location}.

Is my understanding right?

[gracefromHHP]

I'm not sure what you are asking with your wording but if you are asking if you should be worried much about contracting hsv1 genitally from this situation, no you shouldn't be too worried.

[onlyone222]

Thanks for your patience.  I try to explain my above question:

I know the conclusion: “once you are infected at one location with a virus (HSV 1 orally for example), it is highly unlikely that you would contract the same virus in a new location.”   I know the reason is there is antibody produced in my body, so I can resist the contraction of same virus. But I just want to know if the conclusion is influenced by the outbreak of virus of my partners (HSV-1 orally for example).  

For example, my girlfriend has blisters on her lip and she is in HSV-1 outbreak. And I didn’t notice that. She did oral sex for me.  At this situation, I can still contract HSV-1 genitally even if there already is HSV-1 antibody in my body.
But if my girlfriend is not in HSV-1 outbreak, she did oral sex for me. At this situation, I can’t contract HSV-1 genitally.

I don’t know if I speak clearly. My English is not good .Thanks for your help!

[gracefromHHP]

there is still risk even without cold sores present if you don't already have hsv1. You really don't have to worry much but just both of you avoid performing oral sex when you have cold sores present.

[onlyone222]

Grace,
my girlfriend perform oral sex on me during she has HSV-1 oral outbreak, can I consider I didn't contract HSV-1 hepes if there were no any symptoms appeared on my genitals for 1 or 2 years after oral-sex on me?

P.S. I have contracted HSV-1 oral herpes in my childhood.
Thanks

[onlyone222]

so
Grace,
my girlfriend perform oral sex on me during she has HSV-1 oral outbreak, can I consider I didn't contract HSV-1 genital hepes if there were no any symptoms appeared on my genitals for 1 or 2 years after oral-sex on me?

P.S. I have contracted HSV-1 oral herpes in my childhood.
Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

correct, if you didn't have genital symptoms within a few weeks after the encounter, it's not likely at all that you also have it genitally.