My wife and I had sex this morning, and a little bit afterwords, when using the restroom, I noticed a small lesion starting to form. It wasn't blistery just yet, and was more like a little red bump forming at the base of my penis.
We've been very careful to not have sex during a full outbreak, or even small one I catch early, and for 2-3 days after it's gone, as well. I was diagnosed over a year ago, maybe even closer to two, and my outbreaks are pretty non-existant, and I've come to learn when I'm about to have one via the "tingling" sensation, and can usually stop them before they start.
I was just wondering what the danger is to my wife after finding this small little lesion AFTER sex? I'm pretty sure I've had it long before I was diagnosed, and when I was diagnosed I had been with my wife for about 3-4 years already, so we'd already had sex plenty, and she hasn't shown any symptoms thus far.
She could already have it and be asymptomatic, or she may have yet to acquire it for various reasons. Only way to know is for her to do an IgG antibody test for herpes. Hard to say about this particular occasion. Obviously, an outbreak does increase the risk, especially if you have gHSV2. Not so much with gHSV1.
Thank you so much for the feedback. I sort of assumed she likely has it and is asymptomatic at this point. Also, I do believe I have gHSV1, which I know is much less "contaigious" then gHSV2. I just would like for her not to catch it, if I can help it at all, and was really bummed out when I found that little sore.
You have never had your HSV typed? That might be worth doing the next time you have an outbreak. Ask for a swab test while the lesion is still new or newish. If you have outbreaks more than once a year, it's more likely to be gHSV2, but not necessarily. Discordant couples can remain that way for years despite one having gHSV2, while others can get it after a single encounter. Herpes can be really random in some ways!
Sorry for the confusion, it was typed when I was diagnosed, I just had a brain fart when typing that out. It is gHSV1, and I get outbreaks very, very rarely.
In that case, you pose little risk to your wife. You would be of greater risk to her if you have HSV1 orally. Genital HSV1, so say the experts, is rarely acquired via intercourse, but through receiving oral sex instead.