safest sex practice

My girlfriend was diagnosed with hsv-1 this year, and I did not use a condom or anything since we started dating and she had it the whole time. I took a blood test to check to see if I had it and I luckily didn't. I do not want to break up with her over this, but this changes the ball park quite a bit. She takes valtrex everyday without fail, but what is the best way to protect myself and what precautions should I take if I decide to continue sex?

[gracefromHHP]

I removed your other post since it was the same.

it's not likely at all that you'd contract hsv1 from your partner. Hsv1 genitally doesn't reoccur much at all as well as sheds less than a dozen days total out of the year.

did you two both cover your std status with testing for all other std's too?

we don't know if daily suppressive therapy reduces transmission to a partner for hsv1. we have no studies on it.

avoiding sex anytime she has anything going on genitally is going to protect you a lot. Unfortunately unless she gets obvious cold sores, no easy way to know if she also contracted hsv1 orally at the same time. Discuss together if it's worth having protected sex as well as protected oral sex to fully protect you - it's totally up to the both of you what precautions to take.

grace

[gracefromHHP]

I removed your other post since it was the same.

it's not likely at all that you'd contract hsv1 from your partner. Hsv1 genitally doesn't reoccur much at all as well as sheds less than a dozen days total out of the year.

did you two both cover your std status with testing for all other std's too?

we don't know if daily suppressive therapy reduces transmission to a partner for hsv1. we have no studies on it.

avoiding sex anytime she has anything going on genitally is going to protect you a lot. Unfortunately unless she gets obvious cold sores, no easy way to know if she also contracted hsv1 orally at the same time. Discuss together if it's worth having protected sex as well as protected oral sex to fully protect you - it's totally up to the both of you what precautions to take.

grace

[gracefromHHP]

also statistically, 1 out of every 2-3 people you know has hsv1. do you typically worry about hsv1 enough to break up with someone?

[aladin222]

yes we did both cover all std's. she got tested for all others also. I got a blood test done, and am just trying to protect myself as much as possible. When is the right time to have sex and are there any precautions I should take? Thank you so much for your help.

[aladin222]

Another major question is whether I can give her oral sex or not. What are the chances of me transmitting it in general?

[gracefromHHP]

yes you can perform oral on her. hsv1 genitally sheds less than a dozen days out of the year on average. It's not likely you'd be having any type of sex with her on a day the virus was active.  

just avoid sex anytime she has anything going on genitally. using condoms will protect you more also.

[aladin222]

How can we tell if she is shedding?

[gracefromHHP]

you can't unless she has an obvious lesion present or feels like one is about to start.

[aladin222]

Shedding only occurs when there is about to be a lesion/outbreak?

[gracefromHHP]

no, it occurs just prior to obvious lesions, during obvious lesions as well as periodically in between.

[aladin222]

Only one outbreak has occured and that was at the diagnosis. And that was more than 4 months ago. How will we  know when she will have another?

[gracefromHHP]

you don't.

[aladin222]

WIll hsv-1 have any health risks if I get it later down the road? and how bad do the lesions hurt

[gracefromHHP]

80% of us has hsv1 by the time we retire, it's incredibly common. no long term health risks to it.

the amount of pain associated with ob's varies from ob to ob and person to person. it isn't unbearable pain by no means.