HSV 1 Transmission

[marilyn187]

I contracted HSV-1 from my boyfriend a year ago through oral sex. Both of us had sex for the first time. He had a cold sore and we did not realize that HSV-1 can be spread through oral sex. I have only one recurrence since my initial outbreak more than a year ago. Is it common to transmit HSV-1 to a future partner via sexual intercourse?

[castello80]

If you're partner already has HSV-1 then the chances of you spreading it to him again are like winning the lottery; he's basically immune to getting it in another location. If your still with the same partner who gave this to you then you have the exact same strain of HSV-1, which makes the immunity especially true. Here's a thread for you to read regarding both partners having HSV-1, but in different locations by Dr. Handsfield.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Partners-have-different-HSV1-genital--oral-/show/1129351

[gracefromHHP]

with future partners, you should be discussing herpes and getting them tested. you can't make educated decisions about what precautions to take until you know who has what.

if your partner has hsv2, you are at risk for contracting hsv2 so discuss what precautions to take to protect you from contracting hsv2.

if your partner has hsv1, your hsv1 genital infection isn't a real issue. err on the side of caution and avoid sex any time you have anything going on genitally but having a prior hsv1 oral infection gives them significant protection against contracting hsv1 on other body parts later on.

if your partner is herpes negative, it's still not likely that they would contract hsv1 from you. hsv1 genitally on average sheds about a dozen days out of the year and the odds of you having sex on one of those days are low in general.   of course avoid sex any time you have anything going on genitally too.

keep asking questions!

grace