GHSV-1 and unprotected sex

[cheezy22]

I found out I had GHSV-1 about 5 months ago and haven't had any symptoms since my initial outbreak. I got really drunk and and hooked up with someone without protection (we had oral and vaginal sex). It was only one night but i'm still freaking out because we have the same mutual friends. What are the chances I gave to him in one encounter? I need to put my mind at rest I've been surfing the internet all day but its just making things worse. please help    

[mr_hopp]

There's a small chance overall. Definitely still best to disclose as always, but also important to know that genital-to-genital HSV-1 transmission is actually rare (especially if the other person also carries HSV-1 antibodies, which 80% of people do). Also, the asymptomatic viral shedding rate is 1/5 that of genital HSV-2. HSV-1 really prefers to hang around orally. 

I once asked Terri Warren about genital HSV-1 transmission specifically and she told me, "I actually have not personally seen genital genital transmission of HSV-1 ... Genital to genital transmission has been well documented in the professional literature. I think it’s an incredibly rare event but it does happen, particularly if it’s from a person with newly acquired infection.”

The most important piece to remember here is that getting STDs is a 2-way street. You don't know what the guy might have had since you didn't have the safer sex talk. A lot of folks who have herpes get blinded by the fact that the *other* person could have another STD and pass that along, too. 

[cheezy22]

thank you for the response! I guess only time will tell at this point, its the only encounter i've had since my diagnosis so its still a new concept but you're right I need to be more careful