Possible to have both HSV-1 and HSV-2 genitally?

[SellswordBronn]

If I have HSV-1 genitally and my girlfriend has HSV-2 genitally, what are the chances of transmission from one to the other? Haven't been able to find info on this.

[WCSDancer2010]

Well, it's possible that you could pass it to the other... the "good" news is that as you already have the antibodies to one and your body knows how to control it better down there, you likely wouldn't know that you had acquired the other ... (not what you wanted to hear I know, but just stating what might happen)

 

Unfortunately I don't think there are any studies on the rate of transmission in this case.

 

If you are both on Acyclovir that might give you more protection as you will both shed less and you will have something to fight if off if you get a mild (as in asymptomatic shedding) exposure.

 

Sorry I can't be of more help with this one :(

[Newlook2013]

yea, I agree with Dancer. If that happens( which is more possible than autoinoculation which lessens with increasing antibodies), you may or may not see the effect.

 

Also, my thoughts in the event of seeing the effect are: gh1 person would likely see the effect more than would a gh2 person on their genitals. The reverse scenario could likely also occur orally.

[WCSDancer2010]

Well only 1% of all oral herpes is H2 @Newlook so that's not a likely scenario anyway ;)

 

And to be honest, you just plain can't tell how each person will react ... even those who have had oral herpes since childhood have had bad H2 genital OB's and those with nothing orally get H2 genitally and never know it. It's a very fickle virus which is part of the problem :(