Can you transmit genital herpes hsv1 while not having an out break through oral sex?

[Stephy623]

I have recently been tested for herpes and was diagnosed with genital herpes hsv1. I really dont know anything about herpes. So many things have been going threw my mind. Can i still infect someone if i dont have an OB while not using condoms or during oral sex?

[MMissouri]

I don't think there are any confirmed cases of genital to genital transmission, but I would still wear protection for casual sex situations. For relationships, that would be up to you and your partner. As for oral, yes there is a risk of transmitting. I'm bumping this thread up so someone can give you the stats on that.

[WCSDancer2010]

@Stephy623

 

Sorry to be late to the party - dealing with issues with my aging father so I've not been online much.

 

First - HOW were you diagnosed? Did you have an outbreak and if so, were you swabbed or did you have a blood test? If you didn't have an outbreak, was it just a blood test as part of your STD testing?

 

If you don't have symptoms and you were blood tested, odds are you have it orally, not genitally.

 

If you have a confirmed case of genital HSV1, and you never had oral herpes, you won't pass HSV1 through oral sex because the virus is harbored in the nerves in your genitals. Herpes doesn't float through the body via the blood or whatever - it stays in the nerves in the area where you acquired it.

 

Now, you *could* pass it to a partner (oral herpes) who is giving you oral but it's highly unlikely because of 2 things:

 

1) 80% of the population already has oral herpes and you can't give them "more" herpes.

 

2) The HSV1 virus sheds a lot less in the genital region.

 

If you can clarify how you were tested I can help guide you through the facts that you need to know :)

[Damnhim]

@mmissouri are you saying if a female as genital hsv1 she can not pass it on to a male through intercourse? (No confirmed cases of genital to genital transmission)

[WCSDancer2010]

@Damnhim

 

I would not say that you *can't* pass it on.... certainly if you are having an OB then you would be shedding heavily enough to pass it on. However, because the H1 virus sheds a LOT less in that area (3-5% of the time for H1 as opposed to 15-30% of the time for H2) the risk is a LOT lower. Also, 80% of the population already carries the virus orally so they have the antibodies and would thus have protection from them.

 

I've seen one or two claims on here of people who *believe* or *say* they got it from someone who had it genitally, but the "experts" have not managed to document cases that are cut-and-dried definitely from straight-up sex (with no oral).

 

Given the stats, you can see that the risk is pretty low. If H2 sheds 15-30% of the time and the rate of transmission is 5% F-M, then odds are H1 genitally would be 1/5-1/3 of that not including the stats for how many already have it orally.

 

My point is, the risk is VERY low. But it's there. My ex is one of the <1% of people who have a weird reaction to Zoloft where he loses the ability to speak at times... it took me over a year to get his Dr to agree that there are a very tiny amount of the population who develop "speech problems" (as they call them) ...AFTER he had another client develop the same problem.

 

So even when there's a *tiny* risk of something, it's still a risk we just need to be aware of. If I had known of the issue with the medication we likely could have switched meds at the time ... now, 15+ yrs later, he still can't get completely off the meds and has to deal with the speech issue once in awhile.

 

The good news is that if you are good at monitoring your body, and you use general precautions (esp if you have frequent OB's) then you likely won't pass it on. Certainly your risk of passing H1 on from a genital area are FAR lower than someone who has it orally (who shed 9-18% of the time).

 

Bottom line is: Just because there are no cases of confirmed transmission doesn't mean it *can't* happen. But the risk is pretty minuscule. :)

[Damnhim]

Thank you so much for the information. Thank you for taking the time to respond. That makes me feel much better. I recently (4 months ago) contracted ghsv1. I'm interested in a man that gets cold sores so I'm assuming, at this point, since we haven't talked about it, that it is hsv1. I was worried that he might get it genitally from me and that I might get cold sores on my lips from him. I feel better about disclosing now, if it goes that far. I think he should still be tested, because I think if it's hsv2 on his lips then we are both at risk from the others virus.

Again, thanks for the info.

[WCSDancer2010]

Well, it's HIGHLY unlikely that it's HSV2 on the lips ... BUT, he *could* have HSV2 genitally and not know it. So make sure you BOTH go for STD testing before you get freaky... (I always say *both* so they don't feel you don't trust them ... just say that having got H, you are MUCH more aware how easy it is for people to have a STD and not know it).

 

But if you both have H1, the odds are very small that you will pass it to the other area... not impossible, but pretty tiny. IE, your odds of being in a car accident are FAR higher :)

[MMissouri]

I agree with WCSDancer (Sorry, it's my weekend to work)

[DLT44]

@MMissoiri if I was tested and positive for GHSV1 and wanted my boyfriend to give me oral not during a break out And I've been taking suppresses it's not likely to pass ??

If I am understanding correctly.

[MMissouri]

There are many things which come into play when talking about risks and transmission, but if you are on antivirals and not having an outbreak, his risk will be much lower.

 

Try to reduce any irritation to the area prior to having oral sex. For example- if you shave the day of said oral sex, then you might have irritation to the area. Just pay attention to how you feel. This is just something I would do, not a rule or anything.

 

Has he been testing for oral HSV? Because it is very possible he already has it. And if he does, you wouldn't have to worry about oral sex.