Hi Terri,

Background:

In June my girlfriend had an outbreak for the first time ever on her mouth and confirmed with testing positive for HSV-1, negative on HSV-2. It was pretty bad and took weeks to heal. She’s been taking pills daily to suppress and recently began experimenting to see how her body handles the virus with minimal to zero daily medication. I believe at the same time as the initial outbreak she had a small outbreak on/near the genitals as well but quickly disappeared and since has been no activity.

Days before the onset of her outbreak we were romantically involved (kissing, intercourse, and oral), on a Friday. At the same time, I had a lump on the side of my jaw, which was very strange (like a lymph node) and I went to see a physician on the following Monday who diagnosed me with an ear infection. At this point my girlfriend began to experience pimple-like symptoms, which was not the norm, and by the following Friday/Saturday into a full-blown outbreak.

She hypothesizes that I transmitted HSV-1 to her while my body was battling an infection, simultaneously shedding HSV-1.

I have never had any symptoms or from any memory can I recall a time where I had a cold sore. I may have had a small cut on my lips from dry lips or something, but I would never identify myself as having cold sores.

On October 8^th I had some blood work done to which after seeing the results, my doctor told me over the phone that, “it looks like you’ve had a cold sores in the past.”

Lab Results:

HSV-1 IGG AB = 4.12 H           HSV-2 IGG AB = 0.06

** The following results were obtained using the Euroimmun Anti-HSV-1 Elisa IgG Test Kit** via BIOCORP Clinical Laboratory

It appears I’m positive for HSV-1.

My questions are:

1)   Should my girlfriend and I be concerned about performing & receiving oral sex without protection (obviously when there are no symptoms present)?

2) In the event that I become single and given all the stats behind HSV-1 (67% of people under 49 have HSV-1. 75%-90% never show symptoms or know they have it), how do I handle kissing someone new? Evidence tells me this is so common that I don’t have to disclose this. What is your advice?