hsv1

[bkbkbkgirl]

i know i was told on this forum once before that it IS possible to contract HSV 1 gentially , however, i would like to know how common that is. As i previously mentioned, i am negative for both HSV 1 and 2 IGG but my fiance was possible for HSV 1 IGG ( typically cold sores.) But, he has never had an outbreak. What is the likelihood of contracting it gentially?  I really need to put this in perspective because i am dwelling on this day in and day out to the point where i check myself quite often.

Also, if someone has an outbreak, is it posible to not know unless you look? Or are the symptoms bothersome enough to know something is wrong?

[gracefromHHP]

we really don't have stats for transmission. It happens but it's still overall low risk.

grace

[Mistakeguy789]

Outbreaks of coldsores typically are noticible on the skin.  

There is about a 18% of days that he is asymptomatic shedding of the virus.  

You realize how many people you could have probably kissed that have HSV-1?  There is always going to be a risk.  If you are worrying about this to the point of checking yourself everyday I think it is time to talk to someone professionally about this.  Oral sex is low risk for transmission.  It can happen but overall its low risk.

[bkbkbkgirl]

I am not really frightened by cold sores as I am about getting hsv 1 genitally.That being said, our sex life has changed a little. I have it in my head that everytime he does oral sex I will get it and so I look. But the symptoms are noticeable enough where you wouldn't HAVE to look correct? Also, on a day he is shedding the virus and does oral would you say there is a good chance I will get it? I thought heat and friction is needed (like sexual intercourse)
Thanks for always answering my questions. I'm very thankful I found this site

[petal130]

You stated your fiance is "possible" for HSV1. What do you mean by that?

Consider speaking to a counselor about ths. Clearly your fear is not the norm (I say that out of kindness, not judgement). I've used counseling/therapy in my life and it can help tremendously. You're going to marry this man - do you want this part of the relationship going forward?

And if it's this much an issue, use protection or talk to your partner and choose not to do it - again I think speaking to a mental health professional will be very helpful, even going as a couple too.

Yes, heat and friction is needed. That occurs with oral sex for the most part.

[bkbkbkgirl]

Sorry I meant to say POSITIVE for hsv1. What do you mean about "do I want this part of my relationship going forward?" I am thinking of talking to someone bc it gets to be a little much at times.

Petal130 did you say you are positive for HSV 1 gentially? Was it from oral sex? ( I thought I read that in another post)

How often do you hear about people getting this genitally?  

[bkbkbkgirl]

You mentioned oral sex is overall a low risk. Is that referring to a girl giving a guy oral sex? Or vice versa too. I know females could contract things easier than males

[gracefromHHP]

it's still low risk overall regardless of your gender.

have you two considered just having protected oral sex so that you worry less?

cold sores can be pretty obvious or they can be milder with tingling and redness. if your bf has been getting cold sores for awhile now, odds are he's fairly familiar with the signs he typically gets prior to a cold sore forming.   Just avoiding oral anytime he has any symptoms of a cold sore or of a cold sore about to start as well as in general when he's ill he shouldn't perform oral on you ( for multiple reasons of course! ), really does go a long way.  

I know it's hard not to worry but common sense really does go a long way in protecting you :)

grace

[bkbkbkgirl]

No he has NEVER had a cold sore. Not ever. So would the chances of him giving it to me be even less?
Yea, I am trying to use common sense but once I heard there is chance of spreading it I automatically started thinking it would happen to me . That's why I asked how often this happens .

[petal130]

I agree with Grace - if you are worrying over this every day - or every time he performs oral sex, then use protection or don't do it at all. Or, speak to someone about it and see if you can move forward without the constant fear.

It took my partner 5 years and very frequent oral sex to transmit his oral HSV1 to me. He never had a visible cold sore in that time, but did when he was a teenager, so he we knew he had it but never knew about viral shedding. It's more about bad luck than anything.

[bkbkbkgirl]

how did you know it took that long? is it possible to have contracted in maybe a year into the relationship but only showed up 5 years later?

thanks again for all your information. This is really starting to help me put this into perspective..i am thinking of talking to someone about all this because i know i cant live in a bubble ( lol) and things happen. I just wanted to see if im OVERLY WORRYING about contracting hsv1. I think i am because it doesnt seem to spread that easily.

[gracefromHHP]

typically hsv1 genitally presents with pretty obvious symptoms when you contract it.

[bkbkbkgirl]

thanks again for allllllll your help...... i may be back with more questions :)

[petal130]

I knew/my doctor diagnosed it as a primary genital HSV1 infection because I had a very classic herpes outbreak with many (very painful) lesions that took the better part of a month to completely heal, and mild flu-like symptoms too. The swab/culture came back as positive for HSV1.  Basically a textbook case of an initial genital HSV1 infection.

[bkbkbkgirl]

they say when u get your first outbreak its typically more than 1 lesion right? and how soon does a lesion appear when u feel the symptons... could it be days?

[Mistakeguy789]

2-20 days.  Yes it is typically more than one lesion.

[bkbkbkgirl]

it could take 20days of feeling the tingling, burning etc before u actually see a lesion? or is that the typical fulll duration of an outbreak? i wanted to know how soon you typically see a lesion after you start feeling those symptoms.

[petal130]

No - tingling occurs no more than a day or two prior to an outbreak. And tingling alone is not a symptoms of herpes - there are several posts on the expert's forum regarding this topic.

Trust me - you won't have to look for an outbreak. We don't at all mind answering questions, but we've pretty much covered what a genital outbreak's logistics are, and for you it's just feeding your anxiety at this point. Let it go and find something else to occupy your time :-)

Lastly as I've said, seek counseling if this has become such a burden. It really should not be.

[bkbkbkgirl]

Thanks again for all of your information. Could you send me the link to one of the experts's posts on symptoms? I was looking but I keep finding questions posted by other people. Thanks

[bkbkbkgirl]

hi grace. one last question. yesterdai was able to find one of your expert posts on symptoms treatment etc. I wanted to clarify one thing though as I cant find the post today. Did you mention that the symptoms of hsv1 genitally are worse than an outbreak for hsv11 genitally? sorry i read lots of information and i dont want to get confused.

[petal130]

Dr. Hook answered you here, correctly of course:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/transmission-of-hsv-1-/show/1571109

[bkbkbkgirl]

Ok. Yet another ques just to ease my mind. I finished my period on sat and sun I had sex. Prior to sex we were foreplaying (fingering) and I felt a little discomfort/ sore. I wasn't as lubricated as I normally am  but later on I was. My fiance also said I was tighter too. Sex was fine and I was well lubricated by then . No symptoms of itching, tingeling. I read that the skin in the vagina is very delicate and without prob lube this could happen. Correct? I think I am just driving myself crazy.

[bkbkbkgirl]

ok back to my original post....... sorry about that. ....
my question is..... i thought i read somewhere that it takes about 2-20 days from when you contract HSV1 or 2 genitally,  to show symptoms. That being said, if its past that time frame is it ok to say you DIDNT contract it? As i mentioned in some of my earlier posts, in am negatvie for both HSV 1 and 2 IGG. I am jus tstill overly  concerned as my finace has hsv 1 and i dont want to get it genitally.

im thinking of stopping that part of my sex life until i get over this fear but in the mean time i kind of just want MORE peace of mind lol....

[petal130]

Yes as Mistakeguy stated in this post, 2-20 days, with 4-14 being the most common (just read this in one of Dr. H's posts today).

The general rule is, a primary genital HSV1 outbreak typically produces classic herpes symptoms.

Re-read this post and the one to Dr. Hook in it's entirety. Otherwise it begins to become a broken record with the same questions asked over and over. The peace of mind won't come from feeding your anxiety by posting worrisome questions.

[bkbkbkgirl]

ok one more.... one time when i was doing my self exams i was fairly dry as it was sthe last day of my period and i may have been a little rough with "pulling" and  i think i tore one of the creases on the inner labia. it was so minimal but didnt bleed but then burned. could that be anything? i know if it was herpes, they dont bleed. so couldi t be??? the cut went away in 4-5 days. no intchiness, no bumps, no sowllen glands, no flu like symptoms.

is it possible to have a small tear but not bleed?