A couple days ago I had unprotected first time sex with someone I had been speaking with for a while. About 4-5 days later she said that about 36 hours after the encounter she developed herpes symptoms. She got swabbed and it was confirmed hsv1. 

I have never once had a sore or any inkling of having anything and was wondering what are my options? Did I give it to her? Very confused as I have zero herpes symptoms as well as never had herpes symptoms. 

Thank you

It does sound like you could have given it to her, the time suggests that.  HSV 1 genital infection almost always come from someone with the cold sore virus orally give oral sex to someone who doesn't have a history of col sores.  Were you the giver of oral sex to this woman?  If yes, then that's almost certainly what happened here.  Also, many people with HSV 1 infection don't have cold sores they recognize so that could be the case with you, if you don't have a history of cold sores.  Does that make sense in this situation?

Terri

So even if I’ve never had a lesion on my mouth that I know of or something on my genitals I can pass it on. I know I do have family members who get cold sores, so maybe I’ve had it all my life. But this is the first time something like this has happened. 

What are the rates of adults with hsv1? I’m feel as though I get lost in the literature. 

And thank you for your reply. 

To get more clarity on this, you could test for antibodies to HSV 1 to see if you are infected. The problem with that possible plan is that the routine IgG test misses 30% of HSV infections, compared to the gold standard western blot.  

About 47% of adults between the ages of 14 and 49 have antibodies to HSV 1 infection, so incredibly common.  

Terri

Also, with there being a couple lesions, she apparently had no other symptoms such as feeling sick etc. 

If this all just happened, she could still do an antibody test and it sure would help to clarify a few things.  Do you think she would do it?

Terri

One last question. Genital to genital hsv1. How common is that? Is there a possibility I could have transferred that way or if she had it prior to me, that I could have it transferred to me now? Again, I haven’t had any symptoms in my genital area and no symptoms on my mouth. 

I did have herpes zoster on my cheek earlier in the year, but I don’t believe that’s related?

Genital to genital transmission is unlikely, but more likely while someone has a new infection.

Was the cheek lesion swab tested to determine that it was zoster or was that a clinical impression?  That could certainly have been HSV 1 is it was NOT swab tested and identified as zoster.

Terri