[Question #13005] Female diagnosed 5 weeks ago ghsv1

3 months ago

Partner did oral on me.5 days later, burning w urination,aches,sore throat,swollen lymphnodes & few days later mild lesions.Confirmed w swab.Do I need to tell him,I’m assuming gave it to me.Not a consistent partner ,1-3x/month

What type of transmission do you see with ghsv1?What are the odds of me spreading g2g w unprotected sex

3 months ago

Partner is my current only partner for the past 9 months.i am now on 1g valtrex 1x day.Why do people need to disclose ghsv1 when transmission rates are so low besides trust.Am I more likely to give someone ohsv1 from my ghsv1?

3 months ago

Sorry, it’s not letting me add 1000 characters at a time .

3 months ago

I read in one forum on healthtap where Dr. Handsfeld states “Avoid exposing your partner if and when you have an outbreak (either oral or genital) and otherwise just forget your positive test result.” Is this still his opinion on ghsv1?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

3 months ago

We have no transmission data for genital HSV 1, but we do know that people newly infected shed virus on about 13% of days in the first 6 months, then ab out 7% of days, then 4 days out of the year when someone has been infected for 2 years. I don't know what Dr Handsfield feels about this now, but I can tell you that when someone is newly infected, the risk of transmission is not minimal. When we see transmission via intercourse, it is often from people who are newly infected who shed the virus more than later in the course of the disease. You being on 1 gram of Valtrex daily will likely reduce virals shedding significantly. It will probably not be zero.

Terri

---

3 months ago

Does it seem likely that this partner is the one who gave it to me?

So then you have seen transmission of ghsv1 via intercourse yourself? From my understanding, you had never seen it from what I’ve read through the forums. I must have missed something.

If I know I’m going to be sexually active, would it be of any benefit to take the Valtrex 1-2 hours before being sexually active to reduce the risk of transmission or does it not matter when I take it?

What are the things I can do to protect myself from future partners as well? I know my current partner won’t always be who I’m with. HSV2 worries me. Condom use will always be a thing for me with people other than my current partner.

Can Dr. Handsfield also reply about his past statement?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

3 months ago

Without an antibody test that is negative and a positive swab for that same type, it isn't possible to know if this is a new infection.

I personally have not seen someone with a positive genital HSV 1 swab who had not received oral sex in the past two weeks, so I am making the assumption that their HSV 1 came from receiving oral sex. However, genital to genital transmission has been documented, definitely, most likely from people with new infection themselves.

It would probably not be a benefit to take Valtrex a few hours before having sex, no. To be fully effective, you need to be on it for five days.

Protecting partners most effectively would be taking antivirals daily in the correct dose, having your partners use condoms, being aware of any prodromal symptoms you might have and avoiding sex during outbreaks. Also, partners who already have HSV 1, or report a history of cold sores, would be unlikely to acquire this from you because they are already infected, even it is at a different location.

Dr. Handsfield is welcome to respond of course.

Terri Warren

---

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

3 months ago

I spoke with Dr. Handsfield - he asked me to let you know that responses on other websites are tailored to a particular situation that someone might describe. They may not apply to other situations, such as yours. He would not make that statement, Avoid exposing your partner if and when you have an outbreak (either oral or genital) and otherwise just forget your positive test result.” , to someone with a new genital HSV 1 infection. Hope that is helpful. I'm closing this thread now.

Terri Warren

---