Hello, I have just received my diagnosis of genital HSV1. I just had some questions about it as I just had my first outbreak not too long ago. It resolved pretty fast after taking the antivirals. I believe I got it via oral sex even though I didn't see any cold sores on him. 1. What is the likelihood of spreading HSV1 genitally to someone who has it orally and has antibodies against it? 2. Is it possible to spread genital HSV1 to someone genitally who doesn't have antibodies against it? 3. How often are outbreaks? Particularly in the first year. 4. Is genital HSV1 just as infectious as oral HSV1? I heard oral HSV1 sheds asymptomatically more often. 5. Is genital HSV 1 just as infectious as genital HSV2? 6. How often will I shed asymptomatically? I am really alone in all of this and would greatly appreciate it if someone were to answer my questions!
Hi, Marie. I found out about two years ago that I picked up GHSV-1, also probable as a result of oral sex. I’m not a pro, but based on what I’ve learned, I’ll try to answer a few of your questions. Don’t take these as fact, just tidbits I’ve picked up.
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If someone else already has the antibodies for HSV-1 and they have it orally, I’ve ready that it is highly unlikely that they will get it below the belt.
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Yes, I’ve read it’s possible. Many will tell you that this isn’t the case, but I’m pretty sure it is possible, though nowhere near as likely as passing HSV-2 genital to genital or HSV-1 genital to oral.
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Outbreaks are few and far between. If you google it, your results will tell you that most have no more than one a year, with many never experiencing another outbreak after the initial one. In the two years I contracted it, I have had only one POSSIBLE outbreak. I say possible because I’m not even sure that the blemish I had was an outbreak, but I err’d on the side of caution and assumed it was. So, one outbreak in two years for yours truly.
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No, GHSV-1 is nowhere near as infectious as oral.
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No, GHSV-1 is nowhere near as infectious as GHSV-2.
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I have no idea. What I do know is that GHSV-1 and Oral HSV-2 are nowhere near as severe as GHSV-2 and Oral HSV-1, at least with most carriers.
While I was devastated when I first contracted it, it got better in time. This has had a minimal impact on my life. I started dating someone after a couple of months of finding out about it. I was upfront with her from the get-go. We practiced safe sex initially but eventually lost the condoms once we felt comfortable. I take Valtrex daily for suppression which takes the already minimal asymptomatic shedding and odds of passing on to a partner and cuts it in half. Two years later - she remains free of the virus.
Hi!
Thank you so much for your reply. Really helps to hear that I’m not alone in this haha. Did you decide to use condoms at the beginning as your partner didn’t have any antibodies against hsv1? Would you have done the same even if she had them?
Yes, condoms were used initially as a protective measure. She did a lot of research into it and understood that while it was possible to pass the virus, the risk was minimal given that those with GHSV-1 don’t shed much and that my daily use of Valtrex further cut the odds of transmission. If there is even a chance of an OB, we would refrain from sex.