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Oral HSV2 Transmisstion Question
Background: My new boyfriend (we are both gay men) has been diagnosed with oral HSV2 (about 4 months ago) and had one initial outbreak. He has had no outbreaks or visible symptoms since then. We are wondering about transmission issues since, as far as I know, I am negative on both HSV1 and HSV2 (as of my last tests about 6 weeks ago).
I've read the FAQ and it states in one place:
"...There is no risk of acquiring genital HSV-2 infection from oral sex." However, in my opinion, the answer to this question is poorly worded and can be interpreted in a couple of different ways given the context. (It's Q2 of the FAQ, by the way.)
I've also read here that it's uncommon to have HSV2 orally, but assuming one does have oral HSV2:
1.) Is the quoted statement really correct? It seems to me that if people can get genital HSV1 from receiving oral sex, they should also be able to get genital HSV-2 from oral sex. If the quoted statement does indeed stand, what would explain why a person would not get genital HSV2 from receiving oral sex from someone who has oral HSV2?
2.) Again, assuming one DOES have oral HSV-2, what is know about how easy is to transmit via kissling?
Thank you. I have learned a lot from this forum.
OK, After reading the responses here I pressed him for more details and he told me that the doctor swabbed his lip and it came back positive for herpes. The doctor said it was "most likely" HSV2 because of the severity of the sore throat he had. However, it appears a typing test was not done. So, he went to his doctor, had a blood typing test and it turned out to actually be HSV1. So much for the doctor's original diagnosis, eh? Well, this does change things, at least we have solid information now.
Thanks for all of your help and it just goes to show to everyone out there that you can't know for sure until you see a health care provider and get the right kind of tests. Just because someone (even a doctor) thinks something is true does not make it so. :-)
Thanks for all of your help and it just goes to show to everyone out there that you can't know for sure until you see a health care provider and get the right kind of tests. Just because someone (even a doctor) thinks something is true does not make it so. :-)
How was he diagnosed as having hsv2 orally? Lesion culture and typing from an oral lesion?
Hsv2 orally doesn't often happen but when it does - it tends not to reoccur ( statistically it only reoccurs once in a lifetime ). It also only sheds about 1% of days if you are hiv negative so that's why it's so unlikely that it will be transmitted to a partner either orally or genitally.
Most folks who have hsv2 orally also have it genitally whether they've noticed genital ob's or not - unless of course their only contact was performing oral sex on the person they contracted it from. Just something to consider when deciding what precautions, if any you want to utilize in your relationship. Unfortunately without any obvious genital lesions the only way to confirm this would be from daily pcr swabbing of the genital area to check for hsv2. Perhaps keep an eye out on clinicaltrials.gov to see if any studies are offered in your area - otherwise it gets quite costly to swab yourself at home for a few weeks ( well your partner in this case ).
grace
Hsv2 orally doesn't often happen but when it does - it tends not to reoccur ( statistically it only reoccurs once in a lifetime ). It also only sheds about 1% of days if you are hiv negative so that's why it's so unlikely that it will be transmitted to a partner either orally or genitally.
Most folks who have hsv2 orally also have it genitally whether they've noticed genital ob's or not - unless of course their only contact was performing oral sex on the person they contracted it from. Just something to consider when deciding what precautions, if any you want to utilize in your relationship. Unfortunately without any obvious genital lesions the only way to confirm this would be from daily pcr swabbing of the genital area to check for hsv2. Perhaps keep an eye out on clinicaltrials.gov to see if any studies are offered in your area - otherwise it gets quite costly to swab yourself at home for a few weeks ( well your partner in this case ).
grace
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for the heads-up about the FAQs. I have not looked at them for some time. It sounds like this one needs updating, and perhaps others do as well.
To the extent that oral HSV-2 is relatively uncommon, the reply is correct. But when oral HSV-2 is known to be present, clearly it can be transmitted to a partner's genitals. It probably is uncommon: asymptomatic shedding appears to be quite a bit less common for oral HSV-2 than for genital HSV-2; and most STD specialists do not recall ever seeing someone with genital HSV-2 that apparently was acquired by oral sex. (To my knowledge, I have not seen such a case.) But in truth, this is hard to know with certainty, because most people with STD have had multiple exposures, and it is pretty uncommon for people who have received oral sex to have had no genital sex recently. In that case, it is easy to assume genital acquistion when the infection acutally resulted from oral sex.
There are no data on oral-oral HSV-s transmission by kissing. I imagine in occurs, but it must be rare.
With genital HSV-2, the maximum frequency of viral shedding, and therefore transmission to partners, occurs in the first several months after acquiring the infection. To my knowledge, this has not been studied for oral HSV-2. However, you should assume it to be the case. In other words, you probably are at higher risk now than you will be later for acquiring your partner's infection. For either kissing or oral-genital contact (indeed for any contact between your partner's mouth and any part of your body), be especially alert in the next few months for symptomatic recurrences.
I hope this helps. Thanks for your kind words about the forum.
HHH, MD
To the extent that oral HSV-2 is relatively uncommon, the reply is correct. But when oral HSV-2 is known to be present, clearly it can be transmitted to a partner's genitals. It probably is uncommon: asymptomatic shedding appears to be quite a bit less common for oral HSV-2 than for genital HSV-2; and most STD specialists do not recall ever seeing someone with genital HSV-2 that apparently was acquired by oral sex. (To my knowledge, I have not seen such a case.) But in truth, this is hard to know with certainty, because most people with STD have had multiple exposures, and it is pretty uncommon for people who have received oral sex to have had no genital sex recently. In that case, it is easy to assume genital acquistion when the infection acutally resulted from oral sex.
There are no data on oral-oral HSV-s transmission by kissing. I imagine in occurs, but it must be rare.
With genital HSV-2, the maximum frequency of viral shedding, and therefore transmission to partners, occurs in the first several months after acquiring the infection. To my knowledge, this has not been studied for oral HSV-2. However, you should assume it to be the case. In other words, you probably are at higher risk now than you will be later for acquiring your partner's infection. For either kissing or oral-genital contact (indeed for any contact between your partner's mouth and any part of your body), be especially alert in the next few months for symptomatic recurrences.
I hope this helps. Thanks for your kind words about the forum.
HHH, MD
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.
