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Transmission of HSV1 in unusual locations
About 4 weeks ago, I had my first outbreak of HSV type 1. It was in the eye (yes I was hospitalized for intravenous antiviral drugs) and on my skin (face, neck and breast). I didn't get any lesions on my lips or genitals. The cornea and lesions have all healed, though my neck still has a red patch.
When I am asymptomatic, presumably I'll have some viral shedding. What risks does that present to my boyfriend?
- Is the virus transmitted in saliva or vaginal fluid, given that they aren't passing through areas that had lesions?
- My boyfriend never gets cold sores, but probably carries the virus. Could I trigger an outbreak in him, or spread the virus to new areas of his body?
- When would it be safe for him to kiss my lips? To suck on my breast? To have oral sex (with or without a condom/dental dam)? To have genital intercourse?
Thanks!
When I am asymptomatic, presumably I'll have some viral shedding. What risks does that present to my boyfriend?
- Is the virus transmitted in saliva or vaginal fluid, given that they aren't passing through areas that had lesions?
- My boyfriend never gets cold sores, but probably carries the virus. Could I trigger an outbreak in him, or spread the virus to new areas of his body?
- When would it be safe for him to kiss my lips? To suck on my breast? To have oral sex (with or without a condom/dental dam)? To have genital intercourse?
Thanks!
About 60% of adults in the US alone have hsv1 orally. Only 20-40% of them ever get obvious cold sores to know it. Odds are that you did get this from your current partner ( I assume he's been with you for at least a month prior to symptoms ) due to the extensiveness of your symptoms. It's up to the 2 of you if you want him to get blood tested. If you guys have never ruled out hsv2 in this relationship too, might want to while herpes is in your minds. It's up to the two of you.
correct - your hsv1 infection and your partners are totally independent and you won't "ping pong" the virus back and forth or trigger ob's in each other. Since you both have it most likely, no precautions to take other than if either of you have active symptoms orally, do not perform oral on the other partner. You both have significant protection from contracting hsv1 on the genitals from oral sex but it's not 100% .
You don't have hsv1 genitally so genital sex is not an issue.
Keep asking questions as you have them and thank you for continuing your post here since we started here :)
grace
correct - your hsv1 infection and your partners are totally independent and you won't "ping pong" the virus back and forth or trigger ob's in each other. Since you both have it most likely, no precautions to take other than if either of you have active symptoms orally, do not perform oral on the other partner. You both have significant protection from contracting hsv1 on the genitals from oral sex but it's not 100% .
You don't have hsv1 genitally so genital sex is not an issue.
Keep asking questions as you have them and thank you for continuing your post here since we started here :)
grace
Hi, I'm following up here as you asked.
First, could you clarify your advice that my boyfriend get tested for HSV1? He has never had symptoms, so they can't culture any discharge. Would a blood test be accurate enough, given his high probability of having the virus?
Secondly, a local clinic told me that my HSV1 can't trigger an outbreak in someone else who carries the virus. Is that true? Does it matter whether the other person has ever had symptoms? Does it matter which part of their body contacts my lesion?
I think I've answered my previous question about bodily fluids, but you could confirm: Since my skin was infected but not my mouth or genitals, I can kiss, have oral sex and have intercourse without risk of viral shedding on my partner, right?
Thank you for your help. It's hard to get much info on the web about eczema herpeticum and ocular herpes.
First, could you clarify your advice that my boyfriend get tested for HSV1? He has never had symptoms, so they can't culture any discharge. Would a blood test be accurate enough, given his high probability of having the virus?
Secondly, a local clinic told me that my HSV1 can't trigger an outbreak in someone else who carries the virus. Is that true? Does it matter whether the other person has ever had symptoms? Does it matter which part of their body contacts my lesion?
I think I've answered my previous question about bodily fluids, but you could confirm: Since my skin was infected but not my mouth or genitals, I can kiss, have oral sex and have intercourse without risk of viral shedding on my partner, right?
Thank you for your help. It's hard to get much info on the web about eczema herpeticum and ocular herpes.
and glad you are feeling better too :) sounds like you had a whopper of a herpes infection going on :(
grace
grace
At this point your bf needs tested to know his status. odds are he does have hsv1 orally himself if you acquired this while dating him.
grace
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.
