[Question #13043] Hsv 1 oral transmission
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2 months ago
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I have oral herpes hsv 1 (my mother has it, and I’ve kissed and been with multiple people / hit vapes, joints ). I know it’s very very common , and I’ve never had any symptoms until now where there seems to be a cluster on the roof of my mouth. I’ve been tested various times in the last couple years all which came back hsv 1 positive.
I’m in a relationship with someone, and I’m worried about infecting them. I’ve been sexually active with them in all aspects without any occurrence of what could be herpes.
How likely is it she has already had herpes beings I am positive and we’ve been together for years ?
How likely is it that she’ll develop hsv 1 genitally ?
It would kind of be a shock to me if she didn’t already have it since I know asymptomatic shedding occurs , but what I’m worried about is she’ll get hsv 1 on her vagina !
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
2 months ago
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Has she ever been tested to see if she is antibody positive for HSV-1? I understand that you have been tested and are positive for HSV-1, but I believe you are referring to a blood antibody test, not a swab test, is that correct? And you didn't have this cluster of lesions swab tested, is that correct? You could have that swab tested to be certain it is HSV-1 and that your HSV-1 is oral. I know you believe you are infected orally but without a swab from the oral area that is positive, we can't know the location of your infection with absolute certainty.
About half the adults in the US are positive for HSV-1, so she may well be one of them. If she is positive, it could be oral or genital; it would be impossible to know without symptoms to swab, but I am assuming you are giving her oral sex, and that's why you are worried she could get it genitally.
If you've been giving her oral sex regularly, then even with no clusters present, you could have infected her genitally at some point in the past.
Is she worried about this?
We worry about false positives on the IgG test for HSV 2, but they are less common for HSV 1 so her testing might be an option here so find out if she is already infected with HSV 1.
Terri
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