- This topic has 11 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 3 months ago by .
-
Posts
-
-
Hello!
1) 3 years ago I was diagnosed with genital HSV1 via swab culture. I finally got back into dating. Disclosing is a NIGHTMARE (and that’s an understatement). When people hear the words “genital herpes” its just downhill from there. Even after stating statistics of transmission and how rare it is, its hard for them to differentiate that there is GHSV1 and GHSV2 and they are NOT the same thing, they are stuck with the idea that once its on the genitals, it’s HSV2 and nothing else. I know that if i wasnt in this situation, I’d probably be just as ignorant to the statistics and facts. So, as annoying as it is, I understand that they just dont know the difference and its scary when you’re confusing it with HSV2. I have kept up with the latest studies showing that people who have GHSV1 shed on about 1% of days after 2 years of infection. I’m at 3 years so perhaps it may even be less for me. I wanted to develop a new approach to disclosing. I was thinking of saying “I have HSV1, the virus that typically causes cold sores” and not mention the location of the HSV1. According to the studies, Oral HSV1 sheds on about 26% of days, while GHSV1 on 1% of days. Transmitting it from the mouth seem like the main concern of someone who has the virus. I am in agreeance with you in your past posts about trust, I am not trying to deceive anyone, but at the same time GHSV1 does not deserve the stigma and fear associated with GHSV2, not by a long shot. let me know what you think about my approach.2) AFTER 2 years (and about a 1% shedding rate) do you thing disclosure of GHSV1 is necessary/mandatory?
3) About a year after i got GHSV1, my coworker used my chap stick (I didnt know that she did at the time)and I used it after her and a couple days later I experienced burning/tingling in the lips and a single, small sore formed in the corner of my mouth. I know its hard to get HSV1 in another location, could it be that I got OHSV2 from that?
Thank you so much! I’m grateful for you.
-
-
2) AFTER 2 years (and about a 1% shedding rate) do you thing disclosure of GHSV1 is necessary/mandatory?
Oh gosh, no I don’t think it is mandatory, given the very low frequency of viral shedding after the first two years of having the infection. I hear what you are saying about it being really difficult. I think your explanation probably covers you from a legal perspective (yes, I was approached just two months ago from someone who is suing someone for giving them HSV 1 without telling him that they had HSV 1, so it does happen). And if you are prepared to answer about location, that’s good too.
3) About a year after i got GHSV1, my coworker used my chap stick (I didnt know that she did at the time)and I used it after her and a couple days later I experienced burning/tingling in the lips and a single, small sore formed in the corner of my mouth. I know its hard to get HSV1 in another location, could it be that I got OHSV2 from that?
No, I don’t think the sore was HSV 2. I’m wondering if you could have kissed the person who gave your genital HSV 1 and got it in both locations at the same time and only the genital infection showed up right away OR the sore was angular chelitis which is not caused by herpes. Without a swab test, we cannot know any of this.
Terri
-
-
-
1) Have you ever seen, heard of, or are there any documented cases of oral HSV2 being transmitted in any way, shape or form?
I am not aware of any cases of oral HSV 2 being transmitted to another person but I suppose it is conceptually possible.
My doctor told me that GHSV1 typically does not need antivirals due to low shedding and low transmission, and the advice was that I don’t take medication and see the natural course of my infection and how my body handles it. I am now seeing someone different from the person who gave me GHSV1, my new partner has verbalized that he does NOT want to use condoms throughout the course of our relationship. Me and my new partner will be getting tested for everything in the second week of January. I know almost half of the U.S has HSV1, but:
Assuming he is truly negative for all HSV
2) If we NEVER use condoms and I do not take antivirals, how likely is it I will transmit my GHSV1 to him?
It is highly unlikely but not impossible.
3) How common is genital to genital HSV1 transmission? (is female to male even lower like HSV2 Female to male?)
It is highly unlikely as well and yes, female to male is likely lower than the reverse.
4) Does your opinion of if its necessary to disclose GHSV1 depend of how length of infection? for example someone who has a newer infection versus someone who has been infected for more than 2 years?
That’s a tough one for sure. And experts disagree on this point. I guess my fear is that if you don’t disclose prior to sex and it comes up later, trust could be broken.
5) The study of GHSV1 shedding stopped at 2 years, do you believe that shedding rates keeps decreasing after that? for example maybe if they did a follow up at 7-10 years, it could be even lower?
I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer to this question.
6) In the far future when I have children, is GHSV1 something I need to mention to my OBGYN? can I transmit through vaginal delivery? If so how do I prevent it? by the time I plan on having children I will have had GHSV1 for 10 years
Yes, this is something that you need to disclose to your OB, most certainly. I’m quite sure that your OB will want to use daily suppression to reduce the risk of an outbreak at the time of delivery.
Terri
7) can Oral HSV1 be transmitted via sharing chaptsick, lipgloss, utensils, cups?
-
-
1) I recently scheduled to get tested. It has come to my attention that the vast majority of clinics (even STD specialty clinics) do NOT test for HSV unless its a swab of an active lesion. When you say “I’d like to get tested for everything” it almost NEVER includes HSV IGG test unless you insist and insist. Even on several online forums people are complaining of the same thing. Having to insist on HSV testing, and some doctors outright wont even order the test if you don’t have symptoms. Why is that? That seems unreasonable considering most people with HSV don’t know they have it.
I think the reluctance to test is due to many factors, not just one. But an imperfect test is part of it, what to tell people who test positive but have no symptoms is another, what to tell people who test positive for HSV 1 but don’t know the location of the infection is another.
2) Do you recommend HSV testing for people who do not, and have never had symptoms of HSV?
That depends on lots of factors – number of life time sex partner is a big one, their desire to know their herpes status it the most important one however.
3)How often would you recommend testing? is the recommendation different for singles VS couples?
I would say that depends on the frequency of partner change, whether condoms are used, what the partner test status is and again, the desire to know one’s status
4) Is it true that repeated testing for HSV increases chances of false positives?
well, not exactly, but if a person tests often enough, this could happen, randomly
5) does having GHSV1 and potentially oral HSV1 as well offer any HSV2 protection? is it common to have GHSV1 and GHSV2 at the same time?
It is not common to have both at the same time. Oral HSV 1 offers no protection against acquiring HSV 2 but it will likely make the acquisition less symptomatic. We don’t know if having GSHV 1 offers any protection against genital HSV 2.
6) I read a study on HSV perseverance in the US. Why is HSV2 SO much higher in some ethnicities than others?
We really don’t know that either.
Just to wrap up and conclude the main point of this thread as I know this is my final post:
After 2 years and about a 1 % annual shedding rate, Disclosure of Genital HSV1 is not necessary? (of course if someone wishes to, they can, but it is not a must?)
Experts disagree on this topic. I think from a legal point of view, if you know you have genital HSV 1, which is then technically an STD, and you don’t disclose and for some rare event you transmit, and have not disclosed, this could be an issue. I think it’s an unlikely problem, but I raise it for your information.
Terri
-
-
1) In your opinion, disclosure of GHSV1 after 2 years and about a 1% shedding rate is not necessary?
I don’t feel disclosure is mandatory. This is not an easy one for me but the basis for disclosure, I think, is about the risk for transmission. I think we must look at WHY disclosure should happen and I think that’s why. I also think disclosure has the opportunity to bring people closer (as well as the opposite possibility, of course)BUT if one decides not to disclose anything, legality/trust COULD become an issue, to avoid that:
2) Disclosing “I have HSV1, the virus that typically causes cold sores” without mentioning the location, and/or showing them my test results with a positive HSV1 result without mentioning location is fair? and if they ask questions about where the infection is etc, I would be 100% honest, if not, leave it be? Just making sure this is fair! 🙂 I know oral HSV1 sheds 26% of days so that seems to be a much bigger risk than a 1% rate
Oral HSV 1 sheds 26% of days in the person with frequently recurring cold sores, just to be fully accurate. Receiving oral sex from someone with frequently recurring cold sores is far more risky, statistically, than having intercourse with someone who has had a single outbreak of genital HSV 1. No question about that.
I think your solution to disclose your HSV 1 positive status in the way you decided upon is just fine.
Terri
-
-
I don’t think it is necessary to pursue the western blot, given his sexual history. I have only seen one person with an equivocal test positive by the blot. If you are concerned, or he is, we can do it but I seriously doubt he’s infected.
I’m glad he was accepting of your HSV 1 and since he is also infected, it is extremely unlikely that either of you will get the virus in a new location on your bodies.
This is your final post on this subscription. Each subscription provides you with three posts.
Terri
-
You must register to ask your own question or be logged in to reply to this question.