Hi Terri,

The likelihood that you are shedding very much at all these days is incredibly low indeed!  We know that once a person has been infected for about two years, they only shed virus on about 4 days out of the year!  And when they've been infected for 30 years, we can only imagine how rare shedding is.  If I were you, this is not something I would worry much about.  Also, the odds are greater than 50-50 that a person you own age would also be infected with HSV 1, even if they don't have a reported history of cold sores.  Once you have HSV 1 in one location it is highly unlikely they would get it in another location on their body.---

 That is good to know, so I wouldn’t be at risk of transmitting GHSV-1 through intercourse or me receiving oral sex even if we don’t use a condom or me using suppressive therapy? What about if you’re only having sex about 4 times a month or should it even matter? 

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 I know you can’t say zero, but it’s     pretty close to zero that transmission to a male (who’s never been infected) through intercourse and oral sex is extremely low especially since I have had HSV-1 genital for 30 years. If I take suppressive therapy would that make it even more lower? Is it true that HSV-1 prefers oral site rather than the genital? My other last question. Have you ever had anyone male or female who tested positive for HSV-1 genital transmit it to another person to their genital? I  wonder how does HSV-2 genital start I know it’s genital to genital and you can get HSV-1 genital from oral sex, but that’s not considered HSV-2 like in my situation it’s HSV-1 genital. I hope I’m asking this question correctly and I’m sorry if it’s confusing. In other words a person who has HSV-1 genital can’t give someone HSV-2 genital? 

 I’m sorry I forgot to add this question to my last one. If you have HSV-1 Genital can you get infected with HSV-2 Genital as well? In other words have both HSV-1 Genital and HSV-2 Genital?

We know that suppressive therapy reduces transmission by about 50% for HSV 2, but for HSV 1, because the risk is already incredibly low, we don't have a percentage reduction while using suppressive therapy for someone in your situation.  It is true that HSV 1 prefers the oral site but because the genital shedding is so rare,  receiving oral sex is also a very low risk indeed.  ---