Genital HSV-1 transmission

[IloveCocoSpectator]

Hello Terri,

I was diagnosed with Genital HSV-1 last December 2018. I was reading online and it appears that the transmission risk for GHSV-1 are low. However, here’s how I acquired it.

I’m a female and had protected sex (condom) with a male. There was no oral sex, no french kissing, just intercourse with a condom. Exactly one week later, few bumps appeared on my outer labia and anal region. I would say that a total of 9 bumps, very few itching, no pain at all. Then they blistered and when I would go urinate there was no burning. I honestly didn’t notice my groin lymph nodes swollen or anything. I would say it was a mild primary outbreak, but still for me it was the end of the world as I have never had abnormal symptoms in my genitals or diagnosed with an STD/STI before. I had them swabbed 3 days later as I was on a trip and it came back positive for HSV-1. I feel so unlucky how this could have transmitted to me so easily when I was being quite careful.

So, what are the chances of me transmitting this GHSV-1 to a male using condoms and taking daily 500mg valtrex? I honestly don’t believe in statistics anymore that I read online, as genital to genital hsv-1 transmission was quite easy on me.

Thank you very much for your time.

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

I recognize that you believe this was your first infection but I seriously doubt that. I am assuming, since you did not list it, that you had no antibody testing done? People can have a completely asymptomatic first infection and then have symptomatic recurrences.
Condoms reduce transmission of HSV 2 by 96% so since HSV 1 is shed so infrequently from the genital tract, I would say condoms reduce transmission of HSV 1 closer to 99% or more.
I believe the risk of you transmitting HSV 1 to others while they use condoms and you take daily antivirals is extremely low.

terri

[IloveCocoSpectator]

No, I have not had an antibody testing done.

I also developed a fever and body ache for a week after finishing the first Acyclovir therapy.

Now I’m on suppressive therapy with Valacyclovir and still feel occasional tingling around the genitals and sometimes on top lip. I don’t even know if I have oral HSV1 since I haven’t had an outbreak near the mouth, but I do feel tingling sometimes on the top lip. I noticed I have yellowish vaginal discharge everyday with unpleasant odor. I have had 2 periods and before the periods around 2 small white bumps appeared.

I feel like this GHSV1 has been harsh on me. Should I do something else to stop these symptoms, like taking 1000mg daily of Valacyclovir instead of 500mg?

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

Herpes is definitely not associated with a yellow discharge with a foul odor but other sexually transmitted infection do have these symptoms. I would strongly suggest that you go in to see your provider for an exam and while there ask them to evaluate the white bumps. You might feel tingling from time to time but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are shedding virus. You could try bumping your medication to 1 gram per month, working with your provider on this, to see if it helps, yes

Terri

[IloveCocoSpectator]

A week after being diagnosed with GHSV-1, I got tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV and all came back negative. The yellowish discharge with foul odor has been happening ever since I had my first outbreak. I know this was my first outbreak because it happened exactly one week after having sex with a new partner and got typical first infection symptoms, body aches, fever, extreme tiredness, fatigue, night sweats, itching, but the blisters didn’t hurt nor sting.

I do not know if I even have oral HSV1 since I have been on suppressive therapy plus lysine pills which might prevent cold sores from forming, but I get the tingling around my top lip sometimes, had some redness and I freak out and immediately put on tea tree oil. I think he may have had oral hsv1 too because the first time I saw him he had like a yellowish pimple on his top lip but I didn’t say anything as I didn’t want to make him feel bad/unsecure, he tried to kiss me anyway and not even disclose if he had anything. However, when we had sex he did not have anything on his lip. I’ll be doomed if I have been infected on both sites on same day.

Do oral and genital first outbreaks supposed to occur at same time or any other recurrent outbreaks occur at the same time?

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

You should have been tested for BV and Trich to sort out a foul smelling discharge.

Sometimes oral and genital infection do happen at the same time yes, from kissing the same person and receiving oral sex from them. it is amazing how often it does NOT happen actually.

This is your final post on the subscription. If you have a questions, feel free to renew.

Terri

[IloveCocoSpectator]

Since taking 1000mg Valacyclovir daily since Feb 20th my vaginal discharge has subsided. I am also taking garlic pills and lysine.

I got a blood test done last Friday Feb 22nd and results came back: HSV1 2.67 / HSV2 <0.91.
What does this mean? Is that high number for HSV1? I was on 1000mg of Valacyclovir at the time of doing the blood test and also on suppressive therapy with 500mg before that. My first outbreak was on Dec 3rd.

Also, my last question was whether if being infected with HSV1 both orally and genitally means both their primary outbreaks should occur at the same time?
I did not receive oral sex from the person, only had sex with a condom and also there was no deep kissing, neither did he have a cold sore present on his lips. I did see he had a coldsore on Nov which I mistaken for a pimple on his top lip. He did not disclose he had HSV1.

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

The results of your blood test dont mean anything really except it confirms your swab test result.
Often when people have both oral and genital infection, both will be activated at the same time.
Again, I seriously question that this was your first infection. You did not have the type of exposure necessary for infection

Terri

[IloveCocoSpectator]

Could it have been that he was asymptomatically shedding and transmitted it to me? Because the the outbreak was on the outer labia and around the anus, nothing inside the vagina as protection was used.

Wednesday I decided to take only 500mg of Valtrex and on Thursday morning my right eye started getting lesions next to it, around 5 little bumps, and my lower lid had one lesion too. I cannot believe that if I lower my dose I will start outbreaking anywhere on my body. This virus has me very scared as I do not even know where it will pop up. I do remember scratching my right eye when my first outbreak occurred as I was feeling very itchy down there and did not know how that I had HSV1 and later scratched my eye unconsciously. I might have infected my eye that time.

I went to the ophthalmologist yesterday and told me to stick to 1000mg daily.

Why are there higher numbers for HSV antibodies and mine was around 2.67?

[IloveCocoSpectator]

I think Genital HSV-1 has been becoming resistant to antivirals and is easily transmitted genital to genital as I have read others’ stories and they have shared similar concerns as mine. This virus needs to be studied more for genital HSV-1.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by  IloveCoco.

[Terri WarrenKeymaster]

There is simply no science to suggest that either HSV 1 or 2 is becoming more resistant to antiviral medicine.
The vast majority of viral shedding happens from the shaft of the penis which is why condoms reduce transmission by 96%.
People simply have different values on the IgG test – when accompanied by a positive swab it simply means you are infected. The index value does not address infectivity

This is your final post on this subscription.

Terri

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