Newly infected: Hsv-1 Genital.

Hello lovely people.

I was recently diagnosed with genital HSV-1, which I contracted via oral sex. Unfortunately I did not have any prior exposure to HSV-1 and so it happened.
This is pretty much a non-event in my rather colourful life, but I am getting more frustrated the more I research it.

Some sites say that I will shed 3 days out of a year. Another said 18 days and another said 23 (eep!). Could someone please give me a bit more clarity on this? I understand that there are not many conclusive stats about  genital HSV-1, but I'm happy with an educated ballpark figure to work with.

I read that I will be more infectious these first 12 months than the rest of my life. Is this more or less accurate?

The lesions tend to be in within the area of my pubic hair (yes herpes, not folicles hehe). Does this possibly impact how contagious I am, due to the skin being slightly thicker?

My focus is mainly to not give someone herpes - at least not without their loving consent. And even then I wouldn't want to if it's avoidable. I've already made the personal choice to not have sex for a year (this is rather convenient because I was planning on doing so for spiritual reasons anyway).

Otherwise, if I am not having a breakout and we do use a condom and he does not (certified by tests) have HSV, how likely is it that he will contract it from me?
Thank you!
There is so much information  out there that it can get a bit muddled up after a while.

[petal130]

Google the Herpes Handbook (Westover Heights clinic). It has shedding rates that are correct.

There are no stats for genital HSV1 transmission, but it is very uncommon since in fact it does shed very infrequently. You could use condoms to reduce the risk even further. To put it in perspective, if you do nothing but avoid sex during an outbreak with HSV2 (which sheds much more frequently) there's a 96% chance annually that your partner WON'T get herpes form you. Very good odds! So, figure in the fact that you'd be using condoms AND it doesn't shed nearly as much, I'd say those odds improve greatly.

btw, I have genital HSV1 as well.

[microscopic]

Thank you petal130. I have read The Herpes Handbook already, and the updated version. I wasn't sure how trustworthy the handbook was. Now I know. :)

[microscopic]

Oh, and I have since recommended the Handbook to my OB/Gyn who initially told me that hsv-1 could not be transferred to the genitals. In her 15 years of practice she had not seen it happen. Fortunately I insisted on a culture anyway due to my own research which stated otherwise.
She has since adopted this new knowledge to her practice.

[gracefromHHP]

Terri is one of the leading researchers for herpes as well as she's our herpes expert here on medhelp. the handbook is accurate and updated regularly!

your obgyn needs to update her reading!!!  In the under 30 crowd, hsv1 is the cause of 70% of all newly acquired genital herpes infections. Hopefully she is always ordering typing on lesion cultures for her patients too.  The 2010 cdc herpes guidelines are also very educational for providers and are considered the standard of care she should be following to protect herself.

hsv1 genitally sheds on average about 3% of days ( no 3 days ). That comes out to less than a dozen days of the year on average total. odds are your partner are not getting tested for herpes so be sure to ask them to find out if they are or not. You can still contract hsv2 genitally so them being properly tested is important so you are both able to make educated decisions about what precautions to take together. If they already have hsv1, whether they get obvious cold sores or not, your hsv1 genital infection isn't really much of an issue at all.

even though your ob so far as been on the thicker skin in the genital area, you shed the virus from the area of lesions as well as from the entire anogenital area.  You also periodically shed the virus from the anogenital area in between obvious lesions too. So really makes no difference whether your ob's are on the buttocks, thighs, pubic mound area or the actual softer genital skin.

keep asking questions!

grace

[microscopic]

Thank you Grace! That was very informative and helps a lot. I've been lucky so far, only one blister and always, always on the same spot. Or very close to that spot.
I encourage testing as it is. I knew my partner had hsv-1 and I knew by blood tests that I had not. Unfortunately its not common knowledge that hsv-1 can and does transfer to the genitals- I did not know this myself at first.

Have sex with boxer shorts on! Just cut a lil hole in them for practical purposes.
Okay, I joke.
At this point I need to assume that I have oral hsv-1 too even though I have had no signs whatsoever of it. Will a condom be sufficient to prevent transmission should oral sex occur with a non-infected person? I doubt saliva contains the virus...?

[microscopic]

Just a quick note while this thread is still going, for whoever might read it.
Low risk gets said quite a bit about HSV-1.
Low risk is definitely not the same as impossible or 100% fool-proof.
I was with my partner for 5 solid years, who had a history of cold sores. In order to contract herpes now, I would have had to NOT have contracted it despite 5 years of exposure and I had to receive oral sex on a day where no symptoms of a cold sore were present.
All of the above happened and I contracted it genitally.
Low risk, yes. Impossible, definitely not. Throwing caution to the wind is not advisable.

[gracefromHHP]

how often are you having recurrences? how were you originally diagnosed?

[microscopic]

I have had the initial outbreak and another outbreak recently. Culture taken from the blister/lesion confirmed HSV-1. Blood test was negative for HSV-2 and other std's.
So that's, 2 outbreaks in approximately 6-7 months.

[gracefromHHP]

oh ok, just wanted to make sure you weren't having them frequently and needed a further work up. thanks for providing that info :)

no need for boxers for sex either :)  hsv1 orally sheds about 15% of days which is far more than hsv1 genitally does ( 3% of days ). Even though overall the risk is low of contracting hsv1 genitally, it's highest through oral to genital contact, not genital to genital. Only about 10% of all hsv1 genital infections are thought to be from genital to genital sex. so it does happen, but not frequently.

without an obvious cold sore, no way to know if you also have hsv1 orally. What few studies we do have show that anywhere from 1/4 to 2/3's of folks who contract hsv1 genitally also have it orally. Discuss with your partner if it's worth having protected oral or not if they are hsv1 negative.

keep asking questions as you have them :)

[microscopic]

Only one more, I promise :)
How can I soothe/ease/shorten the outbreaks?
Its in a somewhat inconvenient place where a lot of friction happens. So far I just wait it out.

[gracefromHHP]

starting antivirals at the very first sign of a recurrence helps it to heal faster. hopefully at this point, recurrences will be few and far between from here on out.

many topicals to use to keep yourself more comfortable while recurrences heal. dermoplast spray is a topical anesthetic that helps with pain. you can soak in a bathtub with epsom salts thrown in for comfort 1-2x/day.  You can steep a tea bag and use it as a compress on the lesions for pain control and to help dry them out. You can use compresses of domeboro's solution on lesions to dry them out and help with pain. You can powder the area to decrease friction from clothing rubbing.  I like tea tree oil myself but it has a very herbally smell and you have to dilute it before applying it  of course don't try all of these at one time - just throwing out suggestions that usually are helpful to folks.  of course taking advil/tylenol/aspirin during ob's helps with pain too.

[help987]

Hi Grace,

I have been reading the forums on this site daily, since being diagnosed with genital HSV1 (which was about 2 months ago).  A culture was taken and my doctor informed me it was HSV1.  My exboyfriend had it orally and gave it to me genitally (seems to be a common story, even though I didn't even know that was possible).

Since my primary outbreak, I have had 3 outbreaks- currently going through the third.  It seems once I get through one, they pop up again. Is that normal?  I got concerned when you asked the person on this post about the frequency of hers, as you thought it could be something else?

In reading through these posts, people claim genital HSV1 is the lesser of the evils, but I'm having a hard time getting through this.  I'm not in any pain, but there seems to be a constant outbreak.  And I'm taking vitamins, Valtrex, etc.

Please help :)

[gracefromHHP]

ask questions in your own post, not hijack this post - thanks!

grace