Aa
Genital HSV-1, again
OK, so this has been somewhat of a hot topic recently and I just wanted to clarify a few things:
A) Let's say a person who was negative for both HSV1 and HSV2 had an intimate encounter involving both deep kissing and oral sex. Let's say that person later tested positive for HSV-1,having had oral symptoms but no noticeable genital symptoms. Would the assumption be that the person had most likely also contracted HSV-1 genitally?
B) On a similiar note..while HSV2 can often by asymptomatic, does HSV1 operate the same way genitally, or in general does HSV1 manifest with symptoms on the genitals?
C) How would the general appearance of HSV1 look? I know there is a "classic" case and then a million other possibilities, which is what makes it difficult...you rightfully say that the best bet is to go see an MD, but this would mean going to see an MD on a weekly basis, for some. Is it true that individual bumps are generally not herpes, and that HSV1 would manifest as a number of bumps, or a cluster?
Also, PLEASE respond to the comment below, from a forum of about 1 week ago...VERY confusing and contradictory...
"I am an MD and I have posted here before.
Some of the advice given on this web site is way too categorical and I think can be misleading. For example Doctor HHH advises many here that if one has genital HSV-1, that person can not transmit HSV-1 genitally to another individual who has documented oral HSV-1 with existing IgG antibodies "even if they tried".
This I think is wrong and should NEVER be said to anyone in these terms. I have done my share of reading and have emailed back and forth with Anna Wald, MD...the one person who knows most about this since she did the 2002 studies with Valtrex in discordant couples. She also generated the study that Dr. H quotes in which he says 40% of HSV-1 does not recur and the rest have 1-2 receurrences the first 1-2 years then none at all.
Well, Dr. Anna Wald and me and "gracefromHHP", and my Infectious Disease MD Dr. Nakada in Torrance, CA all understand that you can still pass HSV-1 genital-gential to an individual who has oral HSV-1 with documented IgGs. It DOES NOT OFFER 100% protection. I know from personal experience. It happened to me. I contracted HSV-1 genitally months after my oral infection (and I already had IgGs) by having unprotected sex with my partner who has HSV-1 genitally. In retrospect, I should have worn condoms.
So, if you have genital HSV-1 and think you can't pass it on to 50% of the population out there who already has oral HSV-1....think again. They have significant resistance to contracting HSV-1 genitally, but it does happen. It's still HSV and it becomes a burden (big or small depending on where you are in life, attitude, etc) that you carry with you for the rest of your life. Unless you HAVE HSV of any kind genitally, you do not know exactly what it feels like emotionally and no one should attempt to minim
A) Let's say a person who was negative for both HSV1 and HSV2 had an intimate encounter involving both deep kissing and oral sex. Let's say that person later tested positive for HSV-1,having had oral symptoms but no noticeable genital symptoms. Would the assumption be that the person had most likely also contracted HSV-1 genitally?
B) On a similiar note..while HSV2 can often by asymptomatic, does HSV1 operate the same way genitally, or in general does HSV1 manifest with symptoms on the genitals?
C) How would the general appearance of HSV1 look? I know there is a "classic" case and then a million other possibilities, which is what makes it difficult...you rightfully say that the best bet is to go see an MD, but this would mean going to see an MD on a weekly basis, for some. Is it true that individual bumps are generally not herpes, and that HSV1 would manifest as a number of bumps, or a cluster?
Also, PLEASE respond to the comment below, from a forum of about 1 week ago...VERY confusing and contradictory...
"I am an MD and I have posted here before.
Some of the advice given on this web site is way too categorical and I think can be misleading. For example Doctor HHH advises many here that if one has genital HSV-1, that person can not transmit HSV-1 genitally to another individual who has documented oral HSV-1 with existing IgG antibodies "even if they tried".
This I think is wrong and should NEVER be said to anyone in these terms. I have done my share of reading and have emailed back and forth with Anna Wald, MD...the one person who knows most about this since she did the 2002 studies with Valtrex in discordant couples. She also generated the study that Dr. H quotes in which he says 40% of HSV-1 does not recur and the rest have 1-2 receurrences the first 1-2 years then none at all.
Well, Dr. Anna Wald and me and "gracefromHHP", and my Infectious Disease MD Dr. Nakada in Torrance, CA all understand that you can still pass HSV-1 genital-gential to an individual who has oral HSV-1 with documented IgGs. It DOES NOT OFFER 100% protection. I know from personal experience. It happened to me. I contracted HSV-1 genitally months after my oral infection (and I already had IgGs) by having unprotected sex with my partner who has HSV-1 genitally. In retrospect, I should have worn condoms.
So, if you have genital HSV-1 and think you can't pass it on to 50% of the population out there who already has oral HSV-1....think again. They have significant resistance to contracting HSV-1 genitally, but it does happen. It's still HSV and it becomes a burden (big or small depending on where you are in life, attitude, etc) that you carry with you for the rest of your life. Unless you HAVE HSV of any kind genitally, you do not know exactly what it feels like emotionally and no one should attempt to minim
A related discussion, I have genital and oral and the same time was started.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
