HSV-1 Diagnosis - confused

Hi,

I was diagnosed with genital HSV-1 about 3 weeks ago.  I had about 5 sores and have never had any signs or symptoms similar to this prior to this outbreak.  My boyfriend and I are very confused about how this happened.  We have been dating on and off for about 2 years, but have been monogamous for the last 8 months.  Neither one of us can remember EVER having a cold sore.  I have at times gotten small what I call "slits" in the corners of my mouth.  I have probably had that max 10 times in my life.  My bf also says he has no signs or symptoms of genital herpes.  He plans to get blood tested.  But I have a few questions.

1.  What type of test should he get?  I have read about HerpeSelect HSV-1 test and Type Specific lgG test.  Please clarify.

2.  Could he have had herpes and never have had any obvious symptoms?  

3.  Is it possible that this is something that I have had and am just now getting an outbreak?  I have read that typically you don't go from being asymptomatic to all of a sudden having an outbreak.  But wanted to understand this more.

4.  If my bf does test positive, but continues to have no symptoms... is it more likely that he gave this to me oral-genital or genital-genital?  

5.  If he does test positive and he gave it to me oral-genital, can I give it to him genitally?  

6.  If he tests negative, is there a chance I was auto-inoculated (given that I have not had another sex partner in a year)?

7.  We had sex while I was starting to have symptoms (but I did not know what it was)... about 4 days before actual sores appeared.  If he did not have genital herpes originally, what is the chance he has it now?  FYI - This was 3.5 weeks ago and he has no symptoms.  Also, if he doesn't have symptoms is it likely then that he probably already had it?  

Thanks for all the help.

[gracefromHHP]

.  What type of test should he get?  I have read about HerpeSelect HSV-1 test and Type Specific lgG test.  Please clarify.

yes that is the test he wants.

2.  Could he have had herpes and never have had any obvious symptoms?  

Even though over 60% of adults in the US have hsv1 orally, only about 20-40% of them ever get obvious cold sores to know that they are infected. Hsv1 genitally is almost always transmitted thru oral to genital contact so if he just tests + for hsv1 it's most likely oral.


3.  Is it possible that this is something that I have had and am just now getting an outbreak?  I have read that typically you don't go from being asymptomatic to all of a sudden having an outbreak.  But wanted to understand this more.

Yes you could've contracted hsv1 genitally previously and just never attributed the symptoms to herpes.  If you had a blood test at the time of your lesion culture and it was negative for hsv1 then there's a good chance that this is a newly acquired infection for you. Since about half of folks will test + on the blood test within 2 weeks after infection - chances are good that it's too late to get a blood test yourself to see if you are + or not to help you with this issue.


4.  If my bf does test positive, but continues to have no symptoms... is it more likely that he gave this to me oral-genital or genital-genital?  

oral sex.

5.  If he does test positive and he gave it to me oral-genital, can I give it to him genitally?  

You can but it's not likely to happen. Just avoid sex whenever you have any genital symptoms.  


6.  If he tests negative, is there a chance I was auto-inoculated (given that I have not had another sex partner in a year)?

You are very , very unlikely to transmit your own oral hsv1 infection to your genital area. That is if you even have oral hsv1.  The oral symptoms you mentioned could be oral herpes or it could be angular chelitis.  

7.  We had sex while I was starting to have symptoms (but I did not know what it was)... about 4 days before actual sores appeared.  If he did not have genital herpes originally, what is the chance he has it now?  FYI - This was 3.5 weeks ago and he has no symptoms.  Also, if he doesn't have symptoms is it likely then that he probably already had it?  


It's as much about bad luck as anything. No genital symptoms after 3 weeks and chances are good that he didn't contract it.

grace