I am male. Never had an oral cold sore. Recently infected with genital HSV2.
Day 0: Female partner had linear lesion on labia majora. She thought it was a cut. Sex with condoms.
Day 2: I felt tingling and symptoms of a cold
Day 5: One sore at the base of my penis. Leaked clear fluid and scabbed.
Day 10: 6-7 more sores at same site. Grew, burst, clear fluid, scabbed. Burning and itching. Started Valacyclovir and anti-fungal ointment.
Day 21: Scabs healed, local pain continued.
Day 30: Symptoms ended

13 days after exposure: I tested positive IGM and negative IGG. Female partner tested HSV2 positive IGG.

I am confident I have genital HSV2. I am taking 1g Valacyclovir daily. I am going to retake the IGG test 6 weeks after exposure.

1. How long after exposure do I have to wait before taking HSV Western Blot?

2. How long does it take for my antibodies to build up to minimize the risk of contracting oral HSV2? Is a positive IGG result a good indicator of having "sufficient antibodies"?

3. Assume genital HSV2-positive man and woman with well established infections. Is there an increased risk of oral or hand infection if performing oral or fingering when the partner has a genital outbreak?

4. If I take daily Valacyclovir, use condoms, and no sex during outbreaks, what is chance of infecting an HSV2-negative female? How many sex acts per week does this assume?

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Thank you Terri!

Day 35: Tingling and slight pain on upper lip of mouth
Day 37: Noticeably rougher skin on oval area on upper lip
Day 38: Oval raised blister on upper lip, slight stinging pain but not wet or oozing yet (just today)

My partner tested IGG HSV2-positive & IGG HSV1-negative. I think the blister may be oral HSV2. I have not performed oral sex on my partner since initial exposure, and I have been washing my hands. I am worried that the blister may resolve without bursting due to meds/immune response.

1. When you say to retake IGG in 6 weeks, do you mean 6 weeks after initial exposure?

2. Can a DNA PCR swab of the oral blister give useful results if done before the blister becomes wet? Or do I have to wait for it to become wet?

3. Is there any value in temporarily stopping Valacyclovir in the hopes that the oral blister fully develops to allow for a better PCR swab? (I want to know for sure so I can inform any future partner)

4. Assume I have oral HSV2, take meds, have no visible oral outbreaks, and do NOT use dental dams. What is the likelihood of oral-to-genital HSV2 transmission by performing oral sex on an HSV2-negative female partner?

(Only paper I have seen on HSV2 oral shedding: Wald & Ericsson 2004. Thanks!)

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