UNPROTECTED SEX when BOTH partners have HSV1?

[dansterling32]

Ok so me and my girlfriend both have hsv1. I have hsv1 orally and she has hsv1 genitally. I gave her hsv1 genitally after we had oral sex when I (hsv1 orally) didnt feel an outbreak coming on around 2-4 years ago. I have had hsv1 orally for  over 8 years in multiple locations on my face but now mostly my lip. Since our relationship is shaky, I always feel extremely worried that I will catch genital hsv1 after we have sex. So, we use to used condoms for awhile and showered after everytime we had sex. But we didnt feel the sex was intimate enough so now we dont use any condoms but we still both use valtrex and always run to the shower wash ourselves after unprotected sex. However, now I'm kind of sick of everytime we have sex that we have to run to the shower and scrub off. I want to truly show her I love her and have lots of unprotected sex like normal people in relationships over 6 years and not treat us having sex like a huge risk that could be ruining my life forever in a way I could have prevented. (Yes I know that statement was kind of selfish but if you could've prevented it wouldn't you?)

So, what are the chances if any that I will get hsv1 genitally or her get hsv1 orally after unprotected sex and not showering or taking any valtrex?

I can see how it would be close impossible for me to get hsv1 genitally bc i had my first infection orally and my body has had time to build up an immunity to the virus over the past years. However, many people online and doctors I and her go to say you still can years after. Furthermore, I recently found this article that states mine and my gf's situation of "if both partners have the same strain you CAN'T get infected again" which in my mind does make sense but I don't know whether the virus mutates and can infect another ganglion.
Finally, my last concern is if the statement on that website ( http://www.herpes.org.uk/faq.html#12 ) is actually true because how can they even test that it is true statement.

SOO (if none of this above makes sense or if you didn't want to read it which i don't blame you lol)

What's the deal? Can I get HSV1 genitally (if I have HSV1 orally for years) and have unprotected sex with my (girlfriend who I infected with HSV1 genitally by oral sex many years ago) and still not get HSV1 genitally?

Thank you all and Happy New Year!

[ehbeedub]

My impression is that you are far too worried about contracting this virus genitally. In general, you are extremely unlikely to contract it genitally since you already have it orally -- and since it's the exact same strain you have, it seems even MORE likely that your existing antibodies would protect you. It's also true that HSV-1 isn't passed genital to genital even if one partner is HSV-1 negative, since it sheds so infrequently from the genital tract.

That said, it is not totally impossible. I won't guarantee you anything. But to put it in perspective: even if you did contract it genitally...you already have it orally, so would it really make a difference, other than the mental stigma aspect?

If you want to be safe, your girlfriend could continue to take suppressive antivirals, but even that seems like overkill to me. Showering after every sex act is not only unnecessary, it isn't even effective in preventing transmission. Just avoid sex when she's having an overt outbreak.

[jonn10]

actually thats not true about hsv1 being passed genital to genital. it can be passed that way, and frequently. Trust me. im living proof and ige been tested 4 times at different facilities and all the blood test results come back hsv1 everytime. technically its genital herpesvirus. its just hsv1 below the belt.
in nursing school below the belt is genital herpies and that's what's taught to them.

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, hsv1 genitally is somewhat of a new discovery from oral and not many studies have been done but bottom line is that a person can get it in both ganglions. Taking meds does lower the risk but none the less the risk does exist.