Positive HSV 1 test, possibility of passing back to partner

[arrow22]

So after having unprotected sex with someone who told me he didn't have anything, I finally flat out asked  him if he'd ever been tested and his answer was no. I went and got tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV - all of which came back negative. However, last thursday I had an outbreak of what I thought were razor bumps. Because my two best friends both have HSV 1, I went ahead and got tested for that. The test came back positive for HSV 1. I told the guy and he insisted that it couldn't be him because he'd never had any symptoms, upon which I asked him if he gets cold sores. And his answer was yes. I must be extremely unlucky as I've read on this forum that the possibility of passing hsv 1 without cold sores through oral sex is pretty low. Now my question is, because I have hsv 1 genitally and he has it orally, what is the possibility of me giving/already having given it back to him through genital sex?  

[gracefromHHP]

ok...so then it's definitely hsv1 genitally if it was a lesion culture that said that.

Since he has hsv1 orally and you have it genitally, typically just avoiding sex anytime you have anything going on genitally is all it takes precautionwise.  His hsv1 oral infection gives him significant protection against contracting hsv1 genitally now.

Is he going to go for a full std screening ?

grace

[arrow22]

they didn't do a blood test, only the culture.

[gracefromHHP]

my question was actually addressed to the original poster since it's her post.

grace

[kari2]

right. the lesion culture.

[gracefromHHP]

ok so the lesion culture came back as hsv1+ and not the blood test?

grace

[kari2]

exact same thing happened to me. where i now have genital hsv 1 but no oral coldsores.. and sinve it happened (about a month ago now) still havent had one. so my gyno said the same thing that because i have antibodies in my mouth already that thats why i didnt get anything orally.

BUT maybe you guys can help me with this if youre going through the same thing: even though i didnt have an oral outbreak, im still SUPER paranoid about sharing anything.. chapstick, drinks, food... anything. any its getting really annoying. so i dont really know what to do about it... my doctor said i had antibodies and thats why i didnt get any oral coldsores but he also said "well just have to wait and see" HA sooo??

and in the mean time... with having genital hsv 1... would it best to follow that im contagious 2-6% all of the time... and more so when having an outbreak?? the situation hasnt come up for me to have to tell a partner yet... but i know it will. right now i feel like i should swear myself off from anyone but a legit partner.. just to avoid the conversation. because technically i could give oral hsv 1 to someone just because i have the virus even though i dont get oral break outs right?  and i know that most of my friends with oral coldsores dont tell people they have them... they just dont kiss people if they have them. so is that what im suppose to do too?? is it the same for genital hsv 1? i feel like morally this is more severe.. but logically its the same thing?? =/

[arrow22]

This was the first time I was tested for herpes and they did a culture so I think its pretty accurate. Also the outbreak was very mild which made me assume it was hsv 1 before the results came back. I was in denial for awhile because most of it was around the anus and looked a great deal like the rash I get when I wear a sanitary pad, and the outbreak started a few days before I ended my period.

[gracefromHHP]

have you ever been tested for herpes before or was this the first time?

grace

[Jenny1233]

The exact same thing happened to me and I still wonder the answer to that question. However, I've done alot of research and talked to my obgyn and im pretty sure that the risk of giving if back to him genitally is pretty low because he has anti-bodies to hsv-1 since he gets cold sores on his mouth already. Because you never got a cold sore, you didn't have these anti-bodies, causing you to be more susceptible to get the virus genitally. I would still recommend to use a condom however, and obviously not have sex while your having an outbreak.

[arrow22]

Also, what are the chances of me also having it in my mouth? I haven't had any cold sores. Thanks.