[Question #7684] HSV 1 Genital
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53 months ago
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Hello,
I contacted HSV 1 genital from having oral sex 28 years ago. My boyfriend at the time had a cold sore and we had oral sex, which caused me to get HSV 1 on my genital. Since I've had it for so long what are my chances of transmitting it to a male if we don't use a condom or me not taking any anti-herpes drugs like acyclovir or valacyclovir. I read on Web MD that University of Washington researcher Christine Johnston, MD and colleagues show that people with no herpes symptoms often shed infectious genital herpes virus even while taking very high dose of acyclovir or valacyclovir.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
53 months ago
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I think you are likely referring to HSV 2, not HSV 1, when you talk about shedding on high doses of antiviral medicine. HSV 1 is rarely shed from the genitals, especially after being infected for two years or longer. Since you were infected 28 years ago, the likelihood that you would shed much if at all now, is very low. Dr. Johnston's data suggests that once a person has had HSV 1 genitally for two years, the average shedding rate is 4 days per year.
May I ask how you know for certain that what you have is HSV 1? Have you had recurrences?
Terri
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53 months ago
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I never had sex with anyone when I got it even him, but we had oral sex and he had a cold sore. Wouldn’t that say I have HSV 1? I’ve had recurrences in that past. Would a person have recurrences with HSV 1? Can you have recurrences in the butt crack area? I thought I had it before in that area?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
53 months ago
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I was referring to your discussion of Dr. Johnson't data about HSV 2, not your infection. Sorry if that was confusing.
Yes, you could certainly have outbreaks in what we call the gluteal cleft (butt crack). How often do you think you have recurrences?
Terri
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53 months ago
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I don’t have recurrences often. However, last month I noticed an outbreak in my butt crack. Is it normal to have recurrences with HSV 1 genital? How likely is it to transmit it to an uninflected male without using condoms and taking antiviral medicine? How likely is it if I used antiviral medicine only? It’s been over 20 years ago, so I can’t remember if they told me if I had HSV 1 or 2. I believe I have HSV 1 because we only had oral sex not intercourse and he had a cold sore then I had an outbreak a few days later.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
53 months ago
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We simply don't have any data on the transmission of HSV 1 genital infection to partners.
If you only received oral sex and then broke out shortly afterwards, I think it is reasonable to think that this is HSV 1, but you could do antibody testing to confirm.
If you are taking daily antiviral medication, your risk is lowered significantly of transmission to another person.
Most people with HSV 1 recur quite infrequently, you are correct.
Terri
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