Just got the call Ive always feared .

[Roscoe24]

My worst fear.  Genital Herpes HSV1 positive (HSV2 is negative).  I have never had any "cold sores" in my life.  I was given oral sex by a female, then after had sex with a condom on.  I have herpes on my pubic hair region down to the base of my shaft.  I all of a sudden developed cold sores on my bottom lip.  I tried to be as safe as possible and now I am kicking myself.  I have never felt like this before. I feel absolutely miserable.

I started getting symptoms 3 days later after my experience.

Can anybody please provide some support? Maybe a hotline or number I can call.  I haven't been able to tell anybody and it is eating me alive..

What can I expect having genital hsv-1 ??? Is there any truth that it doesn't cause as many nuisances as HSV-2?  I am assuming thats not true and I dont want to get my hopes up.

Seeking comfort..

Thanks in advance for any help.

[ehbeedub]

Hi Roscoe,

Genital shedding with HSV-1 hasn't been as well studied as HSV-2 but estimates put shedding around 3-5% of days, which would be significantly reduced by the suppressive therapy you've been on.

[Roscoe24]

Any thoughts/input?

[Roscoe24]

So its been more than a year and a half since my initial HSV 1 outbreak (both genital & oral).. i have NOT had any outbreaks since.  I have been suppressive therapy - 500mg per day. How often do you think im shedding at this point?   I still think about it every day and it drives me crazy.  I'm very scared of passing this on to somebody..

[Roscoe24]

So it's been 10 months .. I have had NO genital hsv 1 outbreaks since the first. I have been on daily suppressive therapy and have been living a very healthy lifestyle. As mentioned above, I have had one oral outbreak after surgery..

Still though, I am very scared of transmitting this to potential partners..

How often do you think I am shedding genitally? Is it possible that I may not be shedding at all genitally with HSV 1? What are my odds of transmitting this terrible disease?

Thanks!

[gracefromHHP]

that first line should've said hsv1 orally reoccurs more than hsv1 genitally does. obviously not fully awake yet !

we don't have as many shedding studies with hsv1 genitally as we do hsv2. It's a safe assumption that the virus is most active the first year - 3-5% rate of shedding is average that first year compared to about 15% or so for oral hsv1.

[Roscoe24]

Yes, my partner at the time got tested and she was negative.

What about the 6 month vs 12 month question .. Am I less contagious now than I was a couple months ago?  Is it true that you are most contagious the first year?

[gracefromHHP]

typically hsv1 genitally reoccurs more often than hsv1 genitally does. it also sheds more from the oral area.   Hsv1 genitally doesn't shed much on average at all.  

we don't routinely recommend suppressive therapy for hsv1 genitally. since it on average is only shedding about a dozen days out of the year and doesn't typically reoccur, you don't get a lot of "bang for your buck" from taking a daily medication for it.

did your partner ever get tested to know their status?

why would you stop having sex because of herpes? it's INCREDIBLY common!

[Roscoe24]

So it has been 6+ months since my initial infection.  I have not had any recurring genital outbreaks to this point and have had 1 oral outbreak (not as bad as the first).  This outbreak came after surgery and am assuming it was possibly due to my immune system being lowered ..

Questions to this point?

1) Can I assume that since I had an outbreak orally instead of genitally that the HSV 1 will be preferring the mouth going forward instead of the genitals?

2) How likely am I shedding (genitally) now?  I have heard that you become less contagious after 6 months but have also heard you become less contagious after 12 months?

3) I have been on suppressive thereapy; Valtrex 500 mg daily.  Some people say this doesn't help much for G HSV1 but only 2.  Is this true?

4) I haven't had any sexual activity since the outbreak because I am scared of passing this on.  Do you only shed from where there were lesions in the first place? For example, when I had my outbreak it was basically from right below the belly button down to the base of the shaft. There wasnt much going on on the actual penis, so I feel like even If i wore a condom it wouldnt help that much because that is not the area where the outbreak was.  What can i do to prevent transmission! I am going crazy!

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

[gracefromHHP]

hsv1 genitally tends to always present with a "classic" initial ob - multiple lesions and a lot of pain. folks who contract hsv1 genitally, don't have hsv1 or hsv2 previously so the body has nothing to help take the edge off that first ob.  

is it getting any better yet?

[Roscoe24]

One last question..

Is it typical for the first one to be so bad?  I have multiple lesions starting from below the belly button all the way down to the base of my shaft. Full blown symptoms.

Thank you vry much for this information.  It is very kind of you to take time out of your day to help people.

[gracefromHHP]

she will need to be tested to know what her own herpes status is. Make sure all other std's are covered for you both too if you routinely have other partners.  

hsv1 genitally is almost exclusively transmitted from oral to genital contact. you can transmit it from genitals to genitals but it doesn't often occur.

about half of folks who have hsv1 genitally never get another obvious recurrence. Of those who do, the average is 1 additional ob the first year and 1 ob every other year after that. Only a small percentage get recurrences more often. recurrences typically are only 1 lesion at a time and though annoying and not fun, still much easier to get through than the first one is.

[Roscoe24]

I have taken some time to read the book.  I have not read through all of it yet..

I have been in and out of a relationship for 6 years.  We have seen other people.  She is somebody I talk to on a regular basis but have not been "officially together".  We were both trying to figure out our lives (work, possibly moving in together eventually) and what we wanted.  This is somebody I wanted to settle down with, marry and have kids with by the end of the year. These dreams are looking more and more unrealistic now that this has come up. I am obviously going to tell her that I was tested positive. I have no had any intercourse with her since I began feeling symptoms. I will let her make the decision if she wants to stay with me or not.  I cant believe my life/entire future has come down to this..

Is it less likely to spread HSV 1 genital to genital?

How about oral HSV 1?  Should I expect frequent outbreaks just as bad as this one? or is this also a "Few and far between" deal..  I understand that HSV prefers the oral region (only if is subsides there) ..

Thanks for the help..

[gracefromHHP]

I'm assuming it's 1 gm twice a day you were given?

so you have hsv1 genitally. It's not really as bad as it sounds right now I assure you!  For most people with hsv1 genitally, recurrences are few and far between and recurrences won't be near as painful at this first one too.

if you haven't yet, be sure to read the free herpes handbook by Terri warren - google it and it comes right up!

do you have a regular partner?

[Roscoe24]

They tested a sore (swab test).  I was put on valtrex (1 pill every 12 hours for 10 days) ...

[gracefromHHP]

what testing have you had done so far?

did they give you any medications to treat this? if so, what, what dose and for how many days?

grace

[Roscoe24]

Please help ..