Yesterday I received results stating that I was positive for hsv1. I had received protected oral from a stripper 6 weeks ago. Is this the cause?My girlfriend was tested 3 weeks ago and she was negative for everything. I have only kisssed her since the exposure. Not sure of what symptoms to look out for? How do I protect my girl friend? Would this affect us trying to have children in the future?   Please Help!

First, the IgG test that you took (I am assuming it was an IgG test) misses 30% of HSV 1 infections compared to the gold standard western lot so your girlfriend actually might have HSV 1 and now know it.  Has she ever had a cold sore in her lifetime?  If yes, then she almost certainly has HSV 1.  Have you ever had a cold sore on you lip or your nose in your lifetime? If yes, then you have HSV 1 orally.  Without any sores orally or genitally, we cannot know where you infection with HSV 1 is, but I can tell you that it is extremely unlikely that you acquired HSV 1 from a stripper giving your oral sex while you wore a condom.  This encounter is virtually a no risk experience for an STD and good for you for using a condom for this experience!  Your HSV 1 infection almost certainly preceded this encounter.  If you develop a sore either in your nose, on your lip and in the genital area, you should have it evaluated by a herpes swab test so that you can know the location of your infection.  This will not impact your ability to have children in the future, no.  At some point, if you are thinking of having children, it might be good for your girlfriend to get a better antibody test to see if you really are the same in terms of HSV 1 or different from each other.  I believe that Dr. Handsfield also mentioned these same things to you?    Please let me know if you have more questions, I'll be happy to try to help.
Terri
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Ok thank. I have had what I though to believe chancer sore in the up by gums. I also vaguely remember getting sore inside my nose when I was younger. I did a phone consultation with the place I went through for the testing and she did not recommend any medication but I begged for it based on anxiety. I have been taking it since I received the results. I don’t think I have any symptoms of hsv1 genital. How soon would they appear if I was exposed to I 6 weeks ago? What should I look out for? Would it be a specific spot on the genital area or just anywhere below the belt?

Looking back at my previous questions, what did dr H mean by oral exposure would be the only way I would get hsv1 genitally?

If you had a sore in your nose it could certainly be HSV 1.  IF someone is going to get sores from a new infection, it would happen normally within 2-10 daysrans
Dr. Handsfield said that because HSV 1 is  unlikely to be transmitted via intercourse - most genital HSV 1 is acquired through someone giving oral sex to someone else.

Terri
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