[Question #7883] HSV-1 Gential
 |
51 months ago
|
On May 1st, I had sex with a monogamous partner. 2 days later I had red bumps that later turned into genital ulcers. I went to my local DOH and got a culture and sensitivity viral swab on the ulcer. 1 week later, i got a call saying i was positive for HSV-1 genital. It's been 3 weeks since I had ulcers and they healed almost completely. I've been with my monogamous partner for a year and I know for certain she hasn't been with anyone else and neither have I. My question is 1. Can I spread the HSV-1 infection to my partner's genital area or does it only occur from Oral to genital? 2. Can i still receive oral sex without spreading it without a condom? (Since women find it less keen to do oral sex with a condom). 3. Can i still have unprotected sex with my monogamous partner without spreading it to her or do i need to wait for the viral shedding to slow down. 4. Would you recommend taking suppressive therapy even with a monogamous partner? I haven't told my partner yet about my HSV-1 because i have't seen her since the last time but I've heard HSV-1 can't be spread and it is rarely active after 2 years but in my case it's only been 3 weeks.
 |
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
51 months ago
|
If you are certain that this came from your partner, then your partner is infected and her getting herpes in a new location on her body would be extremely unusual. I don't think condoms are necessary in your situation. Nor are any real precautions. Does your partner have a history of cold sores and does she give you oral sex? Is this how you think you acquired this? If yes, then taking precautions at this point is likely not necessary at all.
Terri
--- |
51 months ago
|
Yes she does have a history of cold sores and yes she gives me oral sex. So in regards for when I find a new partner, because I am moving in the next 3 months, how would i approach the situation? Since i hear multiple things about it not being necessary to tell new partners about HSV-1, i will go with that approach. I always wear a condom when I get a new partner initially but then afterwards if we are together for a while, it usually transitions into unprotected sex. Theoretically, if my new partner in the future has no HSV-1 or HSV2, could my gential HSV-1 give her oral HSV-1? Would going to suppressive therapy be necessary for a new partner with no HSV-1 ?
|
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
50 months ago
|
I'm not sure I agree with your position about not disclosing your HSV 1 status, but I am aware there are differing points of view on this topic. If you have a new partner and you have unprotected intercourse with that partner, transmission is possible but not common. Nor would it be common for her to acquire HSV 1 orally by giving you oral sex as HSV 1 genital infection is infrequent given off from the body. Your infection is new, so the virus is being given off more often in the first couple of years of infection and certainly in the first 1-6 months after acquiring a new infection.
Terri
--- |
50 months ago
|
First thing is first. I still might have more follow up questions after the next couple questions I ask in this reply. So when I purchase another question, should I make a new thread or can I stick to this question thread?
-I need some more clarification on a couple things.
1). Since my virus is new, how infrequently does my virus give off in the time frames of 1-6 months, 1 year and then 2 years? Explain this in terms of days per year. And the chances of passing it with protection and without protection
2). In terms of new causal partners after September (making it 4 months since acquiring HSV-1 genitally), I use condoms consistently but I don't know if keeping my HSV-1 status to myself would be good or bad even with protection. Because when herpes is brought up, this will bring confusion and anxiety for short term partners. So should I also take suppressive therapy for it to be absolutely not necessary to bring up my gential herpes to short term partners on top of protection?
3). Just for curiosity, if I take suppressive therapy daily, what are the chances of transmission with unprotected sex? In terms of during 1-6 months and after 2+ years.
|
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
50 months ago
|
1). Since my virus is new, how infrequently does my virus give off
in the time frames of 1-6 months, 1 year and then 2 years? Explain this
in terms of days per year. And the chances of passing it with protection
and without protection
You'll probably give off virus around 15% of days at the beginning and then that will drop to around 5-6% of days around 6 months out. Then about 4 days per year after being infected for two years.
2). In terms of new causal partners
after September (making it 4 months since acquiring HSV-1 genitally), I
use condoms consistently but I don't know if keeping my HSV-1 status to
myself would be good or bad even with protection. Because when herpes is
brought up, this will bring confusion and anxiety for short term
partners. So should I also take suppressive therapy for it to be
absolutely not necessary to bring up my gential herpes to short term
partners on top of protection?
I think if you are using condoms religiously and you are taking daily antiviral medicine, I don't think it is absolutely necessary to disclose your HSV 1 genital infection. I would not say this about HSV 2.
3).
Just for curiosity, if I take suppressive therapy daily, what are the
chances of transmission with unprotected sex? In terms of during 1-6
months and after 2+ years.
We don't have that data. We don't actually have any transmission data about HSV 1 genital infection, we only have data on shedding of genital HSV 1.
Terri
---