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genital HSV 1 on male
I'm a 34 yr old male who contracted HSV1 on my genitals about 4 weeks ago from getting oral sex from a girl. It was a brief interaction- the oral sex was all of 10-15 seconds before I stopped it. (6 months ago I tested negative for 1 and 2 so I'm certain this was how i got it.)
My questions: I hardly kissed the girl (maybe 3-5 seconds) and haven't gotten any sores, pimples, etc on my mouth. But now I'm very worried that i'll see something on my mouth.
1.) In most cases where HSV1 initial infection shows on the male genitals, is it very rare that it will pop up orally as well? Does it usually just enter the body at one location or can it enter at 2 locations simultaneously?
2.) If i haven't gotten any pimples, sores on my mouth now, 10 days after seeing the marks on my penis, and a month since exposure, can i assume that it won't appear orally? I"m stressed because I feel like i'm going to be staring at my mouth for the next 6 months to see if this interaction gave me something orally as well. (Also, i was on acyclovir for the last week, so i don't know if that has any impact on delaying the onset of oral symptoms?)
3.) If it did develop orally, would taking acyclovir at onset make the episode(s) more minor?
I'm very stressed over this so thank you to any doctor that has insight and can alleviate some of my worries.
My questions: I hardly kissed the girl (maybe 3-5 seconds) and haven't gotten any sores, pimples, etc on my mouth. But now I'm very worried that i'll see something on my mouth.
1.) In most cases where HSV1 initial infection shows on the male genitals, is it very rare that it will pop up orally as well? Does it usually just enter the body at one location or can it enter at 2 locations simultaneously?
2.) If i haven't gotten any pimples, sores on my mouth now, 10 days after seeing the marks on my penis, and a month since exposure, can i assume that it won't appear orally? I"m stressed because I feel like i'm going to be staring at my mouth for the next 6 months to see if this interaction gave me something orally as well. (Also, i was on acyclovir for the last week, so i don't know if that has any impact on delaying the onset of oral symptoms?)
3.) If it did develop orally, would taking acyclovir at onset make the episode(s) more minor?
I'm very stressed over this so thank you to any doctor that has insight and can alleviate some of my worries.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, that you are t4 weeks out virtually assure that you will not hav an oral outbreak.
A fraction (less than 50%) of persons with genital HSV-1 will have 1 or perhaps two outbreaks in the year after their initial outbreak and of those, most do not then have further recuureeces.. Many persons have no recurrences at all. All of these statements are generalizations of course. Hopefully you will follow that course. EWH
A fraction (less than 50%) of persons with genital HSV-1 will have 1 or perhaps two outbreaks in the year after their initial outbreak and of those, most do not then have further recuureeces.. Many persons have no recurrences at all. All of these statements are generalizations of course. Hopefully you will follow that course. EWH
Thank you. Actually Dr. Hook, the interaction was a month ago and the first symptoms were 10 days ago (2 small red bumps on the shaft of penis). So i'm at a month, not 2 weeks, without symptoms orally. Is that even more reassuring that oral would not occur?
Lastly, in your experience, have your patients in my situation developed 1 or 2 similar recurrences over the next couple years and then usually none after? Or is it just as common to see no recurrences?
My doctor (who I didn't feel knew a ton about the specifics) said that he had never, in his 7 yrs of practicing, had one of his patients with a genital hsv1 infection recur.
Thanks so much for your prompt initial response.
Lastly, in your experience, have your patients in my situation developed 1 or 2 similar recurrences over the next couple years and then usually none after? Or is it just as common to see no recurrences?
My doctor (who I didn't feel knew a ton about the specifics) said that he had never, in his 7 yrs of practicing, had one of his patients with a genital hsv1 infection recur.
Thanks so much for your prompt initial response.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. Your questions are good ones, first a few comments, then we'll address your specific questions.
When a person acquires HSV, whether it is HSV-1 or HSV-2. they tend to get it on one location, even if they have been exposed at several places. Thus in your case, even though you had kissed your partner during the same interaction in which you acquired genital HSV-1, it would not be at all unusual for you to get infected at one location(for you, genitally) but not the other (for you , your mouth). If you have not developed lesions and two weeks have passed since the interaction, you do not need to worry about getting oral HSV-1 from this interaction. In fact, your body's immune response to your HSV-1 genital infection will offer a degree of protection from getting HSV-1 at any other site. Further, just FYI, genital HSV-1 tends to be milder in terms of its typical course than genital HSV-2 - fewer recurrences and less risk of sexual transmission to future, un-infected partners.
Now. with regard to your specific questions:
1. see above. there is little risk of you developing oral HSV-1 (cold sores).
2. Same answer
3. Acyclovir and other antiviral therapies for HSV are effective both at the mouth and the genital location.
I hope my comments are helpful to you. Additional information about herpes can be obtained by accessing excellent informational web sites such as the one run by the American Social Health Association (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of Directors of ASHA). EWH
When a person acquires HSV, whether it is HSV-1 or HSV-2. they tend to get it on one location, even if they have been exposed at several places. Thus in your case, even though you had kissed your partner during the same interaction in which you acquired genital HSV-1, it would not be at all unusual for you to get infected at one location(for you, genitally) but not the other (for you , your mouth). If you have not developed lesions and two weeks have passed since the interaction, you do not need to worry about getting oral HSV-1 from this interaction. In fact, your body's immune response to your HSV-1 genital infection will offer a degree of protection from getting HSV-1 at any other site. Further, just FYI, genital HSV-1 tends to be milder in terms of its typical course than genital HSV-2 - fewer recurrences and less risk of sexual transmission to future, un-infected partners.
Now. with regard to your specific questions:
1. see above. there is little risk of you developing oral HSV-1 (cold sores).
2. Same answer
3. Acyclovir and other antiviral therapies for HSV are effective both at the mouth and the genital location.
I hope my comments are helpful to you. Additional information about herpes can be obtained by accessing excellent informational web sites such as the one run by the American Social Health Association (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of Directors of ASHA). 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.
