I am in a relationship with a man who just experienced his first outbreak, he did not know he had it. Could I have it even though we have not had sex since before his first outbreak? And going forward is the only option to use condoms when we have sex so that I do not get infected?
If he is newly infected, as a first outbreak would suggest, then he is more infectious than normal, especially if it is HSV2. He should confirm which type he has (preferably by swab), and if type 2, consider daily suppressive therapy as well as condoms. He should also do an IgG test asap to see whether this is in fact a new infection (IgG will remain negative until around a month or more, when it will start to become positive).
I didn’t realize you could get hsv1 on your genitals, his dr did not test him, he just said “yes it’s herpes, come back when you have the next outbreak and we will discuss options. He does know who he contracted it from and he has not been with her since March 2016, could it stay dormant for that long?
I thought he didn't know he has it and that this as supposedly his first outbreak? Anyway, he should confirm the HSV type by IgG antibodies (not IgM) if it's too late to swab. Yes, herpes can go dormant for that long in between outbreaks. More common with Type 1, but many men rarely get symptoms with Type 2 as well.
HE didn’t know and the dr did not swab test, after the dr told him it was Herpes he went to her to confront her and she told him she had it- she was the only one he had been with in like 3 years. My question was can you have hsv1 on your genitals or is it always hsv2 on your genitals and hsv1 on your mouth?
You can get both types in either location.
Thank you, I went yesterday and got tested for both types and will encourage him to do suppressive therapy and have protected sex from now on