Genital HSV 1

[Bellapink]

Hi I got genital herpes type 1 from oral sex performed on me. I was wondering if its true that because herpes type 1 is usually oral and forms on lips that its true that when it is on the genitals the transmission rate is much lower? Also, since i am a female who has herpes is it true that transmission from female to male is much lower? 

 

[mr_hopp]

Yes, both of those are correct.

Genital HSV-2 sheds virus 15-30% of the time, while genital HSV-1 sheds 3-5% of the time.

And the transmission rates we have based on HSV-2 (we don't have data on HSV-1) show a 10% transmission rate to women and a 4% transmission rate to men (if no protection or meds or outbreaks). Those rates are lower if you have HSV-1. 

Here is a link to the e-book & handouts that go into more detail: https://www.herpesopportunity.com/lp/ebook

[Bellapink]

On 8/6/2019 at 2:56 PM, mr_hopp said:

Yes, both of those are correct.

Genital HSV-2 sheds virus 15-30% of the time, while genital HSV-1 sheds 3-5% of the time.

And the transmission rates we have based on HSV-2 (we don't have data on HSV-1) show a 10% transmission rate to women and a 4% transmission rate to men (if no protection or meds or outbreaks). Those rates are lower if you have HSV-1. 

Here is a link to the e-book & handouts that go into more detail: https://www.herpesopportunity.com/lp/ebook

okay thank you! one more question if the transmission rates are so low then why are so many people that have it spreading it during sex?

[mr_hopp]

Because 80% of the people who are carriers of HSV don't know they have it. Knowledge is certainly the first and best line of defense to keep partners safe. 

[makepeacewithit]

Most people who get hsv-1 genitally got it from receiving oral sex from someone who carries the virus orally. When someone has hsv-1 orally, they shed and transmit the virus more frequently than when hsv-1 is genital. There is smaller risk transmitting your genital hsv-1 to a partner's genitals because the hsv-1 virus doesn't "prefer" the genital area (difficult to wrap your head around when you DO have it genitally, like you and I do, but it's the nature of the virus to be more active when it's oral). It's a little complex, but generally the rising rate of genital hsv-1 is due to oral sex transmissions, not intercourse transmissions--it's all Sex in the end, but the two viruses just have different tendencies

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