Hello, I am a male with hsv1 genitally in a relationship with a hsv1 neg male. I have a few questions:
1. I've read that I may never get another outbreak or just one more in a year. Is this true? What can I do to help this?
2. How long after an OB should I wait to have sex?
3. During an OB, do I need to worry about touching every part of my genitals or just the lesion?
4. What is the rate of transmission w/o using antivirals or condoms? Genital to genital and genital to oral?
5. Rate of Transmission with antivirals and no condom? Genital to genital and genital to oral?
6. Rate of Transmission with antivirals and condoms? G to G and G to O.
7. Do these rates change if I'm the one penetrating vs receiving him?
8. I want to put both our minds at ease and do passionate couple-y things. When no outbreak is present do I or he have to be worried about: grabbing/touching my penis, testicles or butt; Mouth in the genital/anal area; showering with me; Sharing underwear; Spooning naked/lying in bed naked; resting his head on my naked lap; Jacking off together where both penises touch; is semen a concern for transferring at all?
9. I want to take daily antivirals. I've read its unnecessary and some say it's not important to disclose my status. I don't want to take any risks. What antiviral should I take? Are there side effects?
10. What other vitamins can I take to help my situation/prevent future problems.
11. Are there things I should avoid taking/doing/consuming?
Thanks!

1.  That is correct.  Taking daily suppressive medicine will reduce the likelihood of a recurrence and also reduce the risk of transmission
2.  Viral shedding can occur before or after an outbreak, without symptoms. I would suggest waiting until new skin has replaced the outbreak but be aware that shedding can occur at other times.
3.  Just the lesion
4.  We don't have good data on HSV 1 transmission.  Genital to genital transmission is quite rare as is genital to oral as HSV 1 sheds infrequently
5.  Don't have
6.  don't have
7.  Again, I'm sorry, but we don't know
8.  all of those things are fine and semen is a poor transmitter of virus
9.  Acyclovir and VAlacyclovir work equally well when taken as directed - acyclovir is twice daily and val once daily.  Acyclovir is cheaper
10.  Not really
11.  I think you should that the IgG test for HSV 1 misses 30% of infections so he may or may not be infected, compared to the herpes western blot.  Your HSV 1 genital infection is quite a bit less infectious than if you had it orally

Terri
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Hey Terri, thanks for your timely response and all the info! Just out of curiousty, why is there no good data on hsv1 transmission once it's in the genitals?

It just has not been studied anywhere near as much because HSV 2 genital infection recurs so much more often, is linked to HIV acquisition, and is just much more of a problem.  Sex without a condom is not a huge risk, no but it is a risk. 
My stance is, for several reasons, disclosure of genital infection is better than not. 

Terri
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Hey Terri, one final question since my boyfriend is negative it's possible that I've had the HSV for some time just dormant or didn't realize. 

First, we don't know that your boyfriend is negative - as I mentioned the IgG test misses 30% of HSV 1 infection so he may or may not be infected.  This also applies to your testing as well.
So you had something that showed up on Wednesday and they thought it was a pimple and two days later they think it's herpes and they went so far as to tell you which type they thought it was? That makes not a bit of sense to me.   If you test positive, for HSV 1, it doesn't tell you the location or if the "pimple" was herpes or not. 
Why did you initially think you were infected with HSV 1 genitally? I thought from your first post that you had had some kind of diagnosis?  The IgM test is totally worthless - pay no attention to it. It should never have been done.

This is your final post = if you want to talk more, please renew.

Terri


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