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GHSV 1 Transmission

I've read some of these posts but the ones that answer my specific questions were from 8-20 years ago so I was interested if there was any updated data/experiences.

Diagnosed with ghsv-1 in December, verified by culture. Initial blood test negative which assumes it is first exposure. Started having symptoms within a few days of exposure. It ran it's course and I have not had any symptoms or outbreaks since however I have a very regimented supplement routine to keep my immune system in check.

From my research, if you have to get this virus genitally, ghsv-1 is the one to get due to the low likelihood if recurrence and the lower risk of passing it on. True?

Has there been any recent research on this as far as percent risk of woman passing it on to male? I have a new partner, and it's getting serious.  I'm curious to know if I should take antivirals daily, or just avoid sexual contact if experiencing symptoms. Is it safe for him to perform oral sex on me?  Is it safe for us to have unprotected sex ever?

I know the numbers are not be all end all but would just like to know if there is any updated info regarding this. Thanks for your time.
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Gld to help. Seems to me that, if your new partner is concerned, that would be a legtimate reason for testing.  The odds are better than 50/50 that he has HSV-1 and over 80% of people who have HSV-1 do not know it (the same is true for HSV-2 but the proportion of the population who is infected is a bit lower).  I hope all goes well.  EWH
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Avatar universal
Thanks Dr. Hook. It is unknown if he has it, the relationship is only about a month old but based on a conversation we had about past partners and STDs I don't gather it will go over well if I choose to inform him that've have the virus. Yes, my infection is genital. The person who gave it to me states he never knew he had it, and had no history of cold sores to his knowledge. Whether I believe that or not is another conversation and irrelevant. Thanks for your help.
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL


Welcome to the Forum.  I'll try to provide some information.  Not much has changed of late in our understanding of the natural history and transmissibility of genital HSV-1.  I'll presume that your HSV-1 infection is genital in location.   I also do not see whether your partner has HSV-1 (at any location) or not- does he If he does, there is no reason for any concern about any sort of sexual contact.  if this is unknown, this is one of the few places in which a HSV IgG antibody test may be helpful.  

There is not a lot of new information on the natural history of genital HSV-1 infections despite that fact that at the present time in many areas new genital herpes infections are more often due to HSV-1 than HSV-2.  In many persons following the initial episode there are no recurrences or, if there are recurrences there may only be one.  For genital HSV-1 to recur frequently is uncommon.  Further, and as might be expected, asymptomatic shedding of genital HSV-1 is at least 50% less common than genital HSV-2 infection.  These two facts combine to make sexual transmission of genital HSV-1 infections uncommon.

While precise figures are lacking, female to male transmission of genital herpes is less common than male to female. This is at least in part a function of anatomy with the insertive partner, if infected, being more infectious than a receptive partner.

Your concerns regarding types of sex and sexual contact are an issue related o probabilities-there are no certainties.  As I noted above, if he has HSV-1 (and he may, whether or not he gets cold sores- testing is the only way to know) there is no reason for concern.  If he has not had HSV-1 the risk of low, on average probably less than 3% per year (I came up with this figure by dividing the 6-7% per year acquisition rate of HSV-2 in partnerships where one person has HSV-2 and the other does not in half, reflecting the lower transmissibility of HSV-1).  Obviously condom use would reduce this already low rate further.  The decision as to whether this is low enough for the two of you to take part in unprotected sexual contact is a personal choice within your relationship.  As you already know, getting HSV-1 is by no means the end of the world.

I hope these comments are helpful. EWH
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