Genital HSV-1 and oral sex

[jenna330]

I am a 22 year old female and in a monogamous relationship. My boyfriend is also 22 and we have known each other for years... We have only been with one another sexually.

I have never even had a cold sore before, but my boyfriend gets them a couple times a year (usually just one on his lip). Whenever he has them we never hook up or even kiss until they are gone, as I was always afraid of contracting HSV-1 and he was afraid of giving it to me. We always always use a condom during sex and we are very health-conscious.

Last week I had an outbreak on my genital area that I thought was an allergic reaction to soap... I got checked out and it ended up being HSV-1. I was so shocked because I thought we had "done everything right". I was put on Valtrex and now all my symptoms are gone and I am back to normal. A few weeks before this my boyfriend had a cold sore, and we did not hook up until it was gone a week later; however, neither of us knew that the virus could be dormant in the saliva for a little while even after the symptoms were gone!

A couple of questions are (1) What are the chances of me having another outbreak? I'm petrified for this to happen again! and (2) What about sex? I know we can have protected sex when neither of us have signs or symptoms of cold sores, but is it safe for him to preform oral sex? He already has had cold sores associated with HSV-1, so if I have no signs or symptoms would it be safe for him?

Please get back to me. This is life-changing and I am so nervous about where to go from here. Your help would be much appreciated.  

[jenna330]

Okay seriously thank you for these responses you are really making me feel better about this. A couple more questions and I should be okay---

Is it true that keeping a super healthy immune system can prevent/sometimes stop outbreaks from occurring? I've been a vegetarian for years now so I eat very healthy, but I was thinking of also taking a daily multivitamin as well as Lysine daily to up my immune system even more.

Also, any information on running causing outbreaks? I know strenuous exercise can suppress the immune system but I'm curious about running a half hour a few times a week and if this would cause an outbreak.

[Fleetwood20]

Your early months will be no real guide to your longer term experience. HSV2 averages about 4 a year so you may be reading this. HSV1 averages 4 years between outbreaks this includes the people who never have another outbreak I believe.

For most healthy people, outbreaks will be one small patch with a few blisters inside, finger tip sized, mine are anyway.

[jenna330]

Thanks so much for this reply it made me a lot less anxious! Do you know anyone who has had HSV-1 genitally? How often did they have outbreaks? After spending hours researching it I come up with so many different answers... some people say that they get horrible outbreaks a few times a year, some people never get them again or if they do it's only one or two little sores.

Thanks again!

[Fleetwood20]

HSV1 is not as 'active' in the genital area. The odds of ever having an outbreak after three months from infection around about 50%. The other half average an outbreak each 1-2 years.

Your boyfriend infected you via his oral HSV1 infection as you surmised. This is not related to his having a cold sore but the fact that he sheds the virus on his mouth and lips around 20% of days in a year.

Sex is no real problem at all for the two of you. His mouth cannot be infected further, so oral sex big tick. Genitally, not a lot it known as transmission to an already infected HSV1 person that it is so rarely observed and probably does not happen for people with a healthy immune system. Also once your infection becomes established in the sense of abundant antibodies, you are most unlikely ever to get an oral infection.

I think a term in this instance as you are no longer discordant in terms of HSV1 is 'game on'. You have less to be concerned about than before you were infected.