hsv type 1 on genital transmission

[Bellapink]

Hi I have recently been diagnosed with genital hsv type 1. I am reading different things and some people say that there is a very little chance of transmission for herpes type 1 when it is on the genitals since it is suppose to be in the mouth is this true? does anyone who have genital hsv 1 have you transmitted it to your partner?

[HikingGirl]

Terri Warren's book says that genital HSV1 tends to shed, on average, 1-2 days per month. Your body will shed the virus more often during the first year when it's still building up antibodies. From what I've read, there really are no hard numbers for statistical transmission risk for gHSV1, just that the risk of transmisssion for gHSV1 is "small." (The stats you read about a 4% transmission rate per year for female to male with no condoms or antivirals, etc. is referring to HSV2.). Since HSV1 is now responsible for about half of all new genital herpes infections, hopefully someone out there is doing some research to determine stats! By comparison, gHSV2 sheds, on average, about 6 days per month. So intuitively, you could do your own math from there.

[Bellapink]

so it is lower than 4% for genital if it is 4% for female to male with hsv?

[HikingGirl]

That is what some people infer, yes, but there is no research (that I know of) to back that up. Using condoms and antivirals will lower the risk of transmission even further, no matter which type you have.

[Bellapink]

have you heard of taking red marine algae as a daily suppressetant? would this work as an antiviral too?

[HikingGirl]

I haven't heard of it being used that way. Without some kind of scientific studies, there's no way to know if it works like an antiviral or how well it works.