Dental Dams...effective? Slightly confused though...

[lm44]

So, from what I've read on this site having genital HSV 1 is seemingly more contagious to my partner if they are to give my oral sex?

[WCSDancer2010]

HSV1 prefers the mouth area ... but it doesn't like the genitals as much so it sheds a lot less down there. Unfortunately there are no stats to my knowledge around passing HSV1 from genitals to mouth...

 

This may help a bit

 

http://herpeslife.com/genital-hsv-1-herpes-and-oral-sex/

 

Dental dams would definitely help ... but given that 80% of people already have H orally, well, odds are a new partner may well already have it so it wouldn't matter ;)

[whitedaisies]

Actually, it's kind of weird, which brings up a confusion I have with disclosure.

 

If I have oral HSV1, do I have to disclose to someone everytime I kiss them?

 

If I have genital HSV1, do I have to disclose to someone that performs oral sex on me, even though they will get it in the same place as the kiss....in their mouth, that is if I am shedding b/c of course wouldn't do it with an outbreak?

 

UGH, it's just soooo confusing and I know, yes, we should always disclose, I get it. Just seems so silly when you think of it. How one has no stigma, and the other does, but it's the damn same thing with the same effect.

 

(of course, disclosure is necessary for genital sex, but oral and kissing...it's just really confusing)

[lm44]

Thank you @WCSDancer2010 you are amazingly helpful as always!

[lm44]

@whitedaisies yes when in doubt always disclose but alas the stigma (like every stigma) is ridiculous & completely un-empathetic to those of us who directly have to deal with it