Doctor, I am not trying to be rude or condescending, I am confused ...
You repeatedly say in this forum that you cannot get herpes orally if you have genital herpes, and vice versa ... but, my doctor told me of a specific case where her patient had HSV-1 (oral) she had a sore on her mouth, her husband kissed her and then performed oral sex on her and she ended up with HSV-1 on her genitals while he still tested negative for HSV. How is this possible??? Is it 100% impossible to have HSV-2 in more than one spot? Please help! I really want to be able to have oral sex with my partner, but I am concerned about the spreading from my genitals to my mouth or his. Thank you.
I think he means that the outbreaks are infrequent (or never) after the first one and therefore it's not the same as having HSV 2 but you can check the archives. There is a difference between having genital HSV 1 and HSV 2.
You can't give genital HSV 1 to someone else who is HSV 1 positive. Half the population is HSV 1 positive because they get cold sores on their mouth. If they get cold sores on the mouth they can't get HSV 1 on the genitals.
The only time this would be a concern is if you are with someone who never had a cold sore and was HSV 1 negative and then you could infect them with genital HSV 1.
Doc...I know my partner did not have any cold sores on her lips, so I am assuming she did not have an outbreak at the time.
Additionally, I was tested for both HSV-1 and HSV-2 before this encounter, and at least 16 weeks past any previous exposure, and was negative for both.
Can you clarify your statement that "genital herpes due to HSV-1 really doesn't matter much"?
See many other threads that discuss HSV blood tests. Over 90% of infected people are positive within 12 weeks. (But no further discussion in this thread, please.)
HHH, MD
The risk of getting herpes from fellatio depends on several things which you don't say and cannot know (whether your partner has oral herpes, whether she had an outbreak at the time, etc)--but the risk for any single exposure is extremely low. Anyway, the odds are you are immune to it. At least half the population has HSV-1, generally acquired in childhood; they all are immune to getting another HSV-1 infection of the genitals or anywhere else. Anyway, genital herpes due to HSV-1 really doesn't matter much.
If this isn't enough reassurance for you, see a health care provider and have a herpes blood test. But this really isn't worth worrying about.
HHH, MD
Sorry doc I bet you hate thread "hijackers" but I was wondering if I could rely on my IgG test for hsv-2 after my 12 week test. Risk was unprotected vaginal sex.