HSV-1 genital transmission to partner when using condoms

[vize]

I was wondering what is the likelihood of my girlfriend (who has genital HSV-1) transmitting the virus to me through sex with condoms?  She was diagnosed a year ago via swab and has had no outbreaks since.  I've been reading this forum for hours and I know it's rare to transmit HSV-1 genitally but I've seen a few people here claim to have contracted it from genital-genital transmission but did not specify if they were using condoms.  I have yet to hear of anyone contracting it this way while using a condom.  Does anyone have any experience with that occurrence or know of the possibility/likelihood?  My girlfriend has only had an outbreak in and on her vaginal lips, not inner thighs/buttocks, so I feel like using a condom when there's no outbreak will put the risk at basically 0%.  Any thoughts?

[vize]

Thanks a lot, hopeful!  You've been most helpful.  

[hopeful969]

No vize, its not like that, you wont contract it form a second of skin to skin contact, you have for sure come into contact hundreds of times in your life with no infection. It is actually quite difficult for the virus to penetrate the the tough layers of the skin, but I had some teeny teeny nicks from having just shaved prior - you know being the good girlfriend wanting to be neat and tidy down there.... got me iinto trouble. Its not liek if you touch her there you'll get it! THink how many people you've probably kissed who have had cols sores and you didnt know it - and they shed way way more than GHSV-1 does but for some reason no one seems to give care about that!

ANyways, good like, I have to toally compliment you for doing your research and taking the time to discuss these sexual issues up front, more and more people need to, it will build the foundation for a better relationship based on trust and open communication.

[vize]

I was also curious if anyone knows about the criteria for asymptomatic shedding of Genital HSV-1.  I know it's about 3% of days so is it just a random day here, a random day there, etc. for about 12 times a year?  Or is it more like Sept 1 - Sept 12 she's shedding?

[vize]

Hey hopeful969, thanks a lot for your quick reply.  My girlfriend is right here as we're both studying for midterms.  You mentioning the asymptomatic shedding part is basically what got me started on this forum.  We haven't had sex yet (we've only been going together for a month, known each other for 2 months) because of the HSV-1 situation.  I'm going to set up an appt. to get tested to see my own status and go from there.  So with the shedding situation, all it takes is like 1 second skin-to-skin contact with an area that is asymptomatically shedding and I will contract it, eh?  And like you also said, it can asymptomatically shed from anywhere in the region (buttocks, inner/outer thighs)?  Thanks a lot, again.

[hopeful969]

Hey vize, I got GHSV-1 via genital to genital contact with no condoms being used. I feel strongly that they would have protected me for sure! (B/c his infection was in his urethra)  Hope that helps. If you've had cold sores your well protected anyways. Not saying you shouldnt use comdoms though!!:) ANd yes iuts tricky cause the virus cn shed from a larger area, but for GHSV-1 it is only for 3% of days, very unlikely.