oral sex and HSV 2

[John9]

Dr. Handsfield,

I could use further clarification on HSV1 and HSV2 and Oral sex.

Let's say a Male has HSV2 on Genitals.
A. Can HSV2 be transmitted from the Male to a Female through cunilingus?
B. Can HSV2 be transmitted from the Males genitals to the Females mouth through felacio?

Let's say a Male has HSV1 on Genitals.
A. Can HSV1 be transmitted from the Male genitals to femal mouth through felacio?
B. Can HSV1 be transmitted from the Male genitals to the female genitals through intercourse?

I appreciate your help.

John



This discussion is related to oral sex and HSV 2.

[auntiejessi]

Of course, I totally missed the part about asking Dr. H.  This isn't the doctor's forum, but if you search through his responses, you'll find that he says the same thing.

Or if you need to ask to feel better, you can do that too.

AJ

[auntiejessi]

1.  a.  No.  Herpes is a site specific location, so you would only be infectious from the    site of the infection.  If you have it genitally, you are only infectious from the genital area.
    
     b.  Its possible, but not likely.  Oral hsv2 is very rare.

2.  a. & b.  Ghsv1 is almost never transmitted to anyone, either orally or genitally.  Ghsv1 sheds a lot less than ghsv2, and as long as you don't have any sexual contact with someone during an outbreak, it should be fine.  If your partner has hsv1, in any location, then they have antibodies that will help protect them from getting it again.

Never assume that anyone is hsv-.  The only way to know that is through type specific IgG blood testing (in the absense of symptoms to culture), as many people have no symptoms, or have very mild symptoms they wouldn't think are herpes.

AJ