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STDs (Expert Forum)
Herpes Confusion
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Herpes Confusion
by t1234, Apr 11, 2005 12:00AM
I'm HSV1 Positive--HSV2 Negative. My girlfriend is both HSV1
& HSV2 Positive.
I've understandthat she can perform unprotected Oral Sex on me with 0 probability of transmitting HSV1 to me genitally because I have it orally and;
she can't transmitt HSV2 to me from oral sex because she
sssumedly has it genitally.
From the answer to Siri's question I get the impression HSV2 can in some cases be oral--
but I still assume that since she has HSV1 she can't have both HSV1 and HSV2 orally or at least the probability of it approches zero.
Please straighten me out if I'm wrong before I create myself
a problem.
From the Forum I understand oral HSV2 is pretty rare, but what are the stats?
& HSV2 Positive.
I've understandthat she can perform unprotected Oral Sex on me with 0 probability of transmitting HSV1 to me genitally because I have it orally and;
she can't transmitt HSV2 to me from oral sex because she
sssumedly has it genitally.
From the answer to Siri's question I get the impression HSV2 can in some cases be oral--
but I still assume that since she has HSV1 she can't have both HSV1 and HSV2 orally or at least the probability of it approches zero.
Please straighten me out if I'm wrong before I create myself
a problem.
From the Forum I understand oral HSV2 is pretty rare, but what are the stats?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Apr 11, 2005 12:00AM
, Apr 11, 2005 12:00AM
You've got it right. You are immune to HSV-1 from any source and for any part of your body. I don't remember Siri's question or my response. However, once in a while a person gets HSV-2 orally, but HSV-2 almost never causes recurrent oral disease; so if you catch oral herpes from oral contact with your partner (cunnlingus), you might get HSV-2 of your mouth, but you won't have recurrent outbreaks in the future. You are also right that if someone is both HSV-1 and HSV-2 positive, like your girlfriend, the odds are virtually 100% that she does not have oral HSV-2 infection.
Thus, any risk you have of getting genital herpes from your partner is only through vaginal or anal sex, not oral sex. If avoiding that is important to you, you should avoid vaginal and anal sex when your partner is having an outbreak; use condoms consistently; and consider whether your partner should take suppressive therapy with an anti-herpes drug.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Thus, any risk you have of getting genital herpes from your partner is only through vaginal or anal sex, not oral sex. If avoiding that is important to you, you should avoid vaginal and anal sex when your partner is having an outbreak; use condoms consistently; and consider whether your partner should take suppressive therapy with an anti-herpes drug.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
much appreciated.