Aa
HSV1 Genital Herpes - Different From HSV2 Genital Herpes
I was diagnosed with HSV1 genital herpes one year ago at the age of 21. It was a complete shock. My boyfriend and I were both virgins when we had sex for the first time at the age of 21. We were both unaware that his having cold sores on his mouth could lead to me contracting genital herpes. So far, my overall experience with the medical providers after my diagnosis has been all negative. The doctor who first screened and tested me was judgmental and insensitive. When I told her that I must have contracted HSV1 herpes from my boyfriend through oral sex (I did extensive research before seeing her), she told me that that was not possible since ALL genital herpes are caused by the HSV2 infection. Even after the test results came back, she kept insisting that there was no difference between HSV1 and HSV2 genital herpes.
I have read the comments and responses by the medical specialists as well as health community users on both the forums extensively. One of the medical specialist indicated in one of his responses that “the chance of unwitting transmission of genitalHSV-1to a partner is low, so it is not clear that you necessarily need to inform future partners of your infection.” I am 22 years old and I know the guys my age are mostly immature and most likely freaked out and spread the information to other guys. Please help.
Other questions:
1) I eventually want to have children in the far future. What are the chances of my transmitting HSV1 genital herpes to my future partner with unprotective sex?
2) What is the risk of my transmitting neonatal herpes to my baby during vaginal birth? Is it better to give birth via C-Section?
3) Is it true that there is little or no risk of transmitting HSV1 genital herpes to persons who already have oral herpes?
4) My doctor prescribed Acyclovir (400 mg) for my herpes. Should I be taking other forms of suppressive therapy?
5) What kind of doctor should I see to get the best advice (at least the kind that you are giving)?
I have read the comments and responses by the medical specialists as well as health community users on both the forums extensively. One of the medical specialist indicated in one of his responses that “the chance of unwitting transmission of genitalHSV-1to a partner is low, so it is not clear that you necessarily need to inform future partners of your infection.” I am 22 years old and I know the guys my age are mostly immature and most likely freaked out and spread the information to other guys. Please help.
Other questions:
1) I eventually want to have children in the far future. What are the chances of my transmitting HSV1 genital herpes to my future partner with unprotective sex?
2) What is the risk of my transmitting neonatal herpes to my baby during vaginal birth? Is it better to give birth via C-Section?
3) Is it true that there is little or no risk of transmitting HSV1 genital herpes to persons who already have oral herpes?
4) My doctor prescribed Acyclovir (400 mg) for my herpes. Should I be taking other forms of suppressive therapy?
5) What kind of doctor should I see to get the best advice (at least the kind that you are giving)?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Once again, you have interacted with a health care provider who is incorrect about the differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2- your recurrences already show this. Persons with genital HSV-2 have, on average 3-4 recurrences per year.
The issue of disclosure is a difficult one, in large part becasue so many people are mis-informed. It is always the best course. As I mentioned above, the probabilities change if your partner has HSV-1 himself. EWH
The issue of disclosure is a difficult one, in large part becasue so many people are mis-informed. It is always the best course. As I mentioned above, the probabilities change if your partner has HSV-1 himself. EWH
I really appreciate your prompt response. I wish I had sought the advice of a doctor like you.
I only took Acyclovir for about a week after my first diagnosis. I had my first recurrence two weeks ago, about a year after my initial diagnosis. I went to the nurse practioner at my college and she prescribed Acyclovir which I took for a few days. The symptoms have since subsided. Hopefully this will be my one and only recurrence. The nurse practitioner also told me that there was absolutely no difference between HSV1 and HSV2 genital herpes and insisted that I inform all future boyfriend (s) of my condition. In fact, she specifically told me that it would be "bad" if I do not tell my future partners that I have genital herpes.
The situation is so unfair since I have done everything right. I waited until I was 21 years to have sex and my boyfriend was on top of it a virgin.
I am only 22 years old and frankly, if I can, I would not inform anybody of my genital herpes unless I am sure the person will be able to handle it in a mature and sensitive manner. I don't want to be a subject of contempt and ridicule if there is little or no chance that I transmit this disease to another person.
Do you think I am obligated to tell my future partners of my HSV1 genital herpes if there is little or no chance that I will transmit it to another person?
I only took Acyclovir for about a week after my first diagnosis. I had my first recurrence two weeks ago, about a year after my initial diagnosis. I went to the nurse practioner at my college and she prescribed Acyclovir which I took for a few days. The symptoms have since subsided. Hopefully this will be my one and only recurrence. The nurse practitioner also told me that there was absolutely no difference between HSV1 and HSV2 genital herpes and insisted that I inform all future boyfriend (s) of my condition. In fact, she specifically told me that it would be "bad" if I do not tell my future partners that I have genital herpes.
The situation is so unfair since I have done everything right. I waited until I was 21 years to have sex and my boyfriend was on top of it a virgin.
I am only 22 years old and frankly, if I can, I would not inform anybody of my genital herpes unless I am sure the person will be able to handle it in a mature and sensitive manner. I don't want to be a subject of contempt and ridicule if there is little or no chance that I transmit this disease to another person.
Do you think I am obligated to tell my future partners of my HSV1 genital herpes if there is little or no chance that I will transmit it to another person?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Answer continued:
As for your specific questions:
1) I eventually want to have children in the far future. What are the chances of my transmitting HSV1 genital herpes to my future partner with unprotective sex?
There is almost no risk of delivering an infected child as the result of your infection. I would not worry about it, o ther than to mention it to your OB when you are seeking pre-natal care. See above about the risk for infection to sexual partners- very, very low.
2) What is the risk of my transmitting neonatal herpes to my baby during vaginal birth? Is it better to give birth via C-Section?
See above. No C-section is not recommended unless active HSV lesions are present at the time of delivery.
3) Is it true that there is little or no risk of transmitting HSV1 genital herpes to persons who already have oral herpes?
Yes, it is true- see above.
4) My doctor prescribed Acyclovir (400 mg) for my herpes. Should I be taking other forms of suppressive therapy?
You may not even need suppressive therapy at all but if it gives you peace of mind there is little in the way of side effects. I suspect if you stop taking suppressive therapy you may have only a single, or no recurrences going forward.
5) What kind of doctor should I see to get the best advice (at least the kind that you are giving)?
You had bad luck with your doctor. Most younger doctors are now well informed about HSV. Unfortunately finding such a person will take a bit of trial and error.
I hope these comments are helpful to you. EWH
As for your specific questions:
1) I eventually want to have children in the far future. What are the chances of my transmitting HSV1 genital herpes to my future partner with unprotective sex?
There is almost no risk of delivering an infected child as the result of your infection. I would not worry about it, o ther than to mention it to your OB when you are seeking pre-natal care. See above about the risk for infection to sexual partners- very, very low.
2) What is the risk of my transmitting neonatal herpes to my baby during vaginal birth? Is it better to give birth via C-Section?
See above. No C-section is not recommended unless active HSV lesions are present at the time of delivery.
3) Is it true that there is little or no risk of transmitting HSV1 genital herpes to persons who already have oral herpes?
Yes, it is true- see above.
4) My doctor prescribed Acyclovir (400 mg) for my herpes. Should I be taking other forms of suppressive therapy?
You may not even need suppressive therapy at all but if it gives you peace of mind there is little in the way of side effects. I suspect if you stop taking suppressive therapy you may have only a single, or no recurrences going forward.
5) What kind of doctor should I see to get the best advice (at least the kind that you are giving)?
You had bad luck with your doctor. Most younger doctors are now well informed about HSV. Unfortunately finding such a person will take a bit of trial and error.
I hope these comments are helpful to you. EWH
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. It saddens me to hear of your experience. The doctor who made the initial diagnosis was mis-informed and there is no reason to be judgmental about persons who acquire genital HSV in the course of normal sexual activity. An increasing proportion of genital herpes is now caused by HSV-1 and there are important differences between genital herpes caused by HSV-1 and HSV-2. Although the initial episodes are indistinguishable, irrespective of which virus is present, the natural history of infection after the initial outbreak is quite different. Genital HSV-1 recurs far less often than genital HSV-2, is associated with less asymptomatic shedding of the virus and is far, far less likely to be transmitted to sex partners than genital HSV-2. More than half of people who have genital HSV-1 never have a recurrence.
You are right about the guys your age and of all ages- they tend to over react to the possibility of genial HSV and like many people, are unaware that cold sores are caused by HSV-1 and can be transmitted to cause genital herpes through oral sex. FYI, about 60% of American adults have HSV-1, most of which is oral infection acquired in childhood. Most of these people do not even know they have the infection. This is important since once someone has HSV-1 at any location they cannot get it again at another site. Thus if your future partners have cold sores, they cannot become infected by you. Even if they do not however, the risk of transmission is low and if lesions are not present, the chance of you transmitting your infection to a sexual partner is substantially less than 1 in 1000. Further- condoms do provide good protection.
Answer continued below- space limitations. EWH
You are right about the guys your age and of all ages- they tend to over react to the possibility of genial HSV and like many people, are unaware that cold sores are caused by HSV-1 and can be transmitted to cause genital herpes through oral sex. FYI, about 60% of American adults have HSV-1, most of which is oral infection acquired in childhood. Most of these people do not even know they have the infection. This is important since once someone has HSV-1 at any location they cannot get it again at another site. Thus if your future partners have cold sores, they cannot become infected by you. Even if they do not however, the risk of transmission is low and if lesions are not present, the chance of you transmitting your infection to a sexual partner is substantially less than 1 in 1000. Further- condoms do provide good protection.
Answer continued below- space limitations. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
