GHSV1 – risk of acquiring OHSV1

[SPP1990]

Hi Terri,

First of all thank you so much for all the work you do.

I contracted GHSV1 from my ex ten years ago after he gave me oral sex during an active cold sore on his lips – he didn’t know he could transmit it this way, and I didn’t notice the cold sore till after.
My first outbreak two days after that was very painful and lasted about a week and a half, and confirmed with a swab test that it was GHSV1. Thankfully I’ve had very few recurrences since, something like 3 in the ten years I’ve had it, and the last one was in April 2019. The recurrences were much less painful than the first outbreak, and kept getting milder with each one to the point where my last one lasted barely 4 days and it was just two tiny sores that were a little painful to touch for two days.

Two nights ago I was kissing someone new and noticed that my lips were swollen after a while, I thought it was just because we’d been kissing for a while. But the next day he noticed he had a cold sore, so I’m thinking maybe my swollen lips were a reaction from his cold sore. The swelling went down completely a few hours after we’d stopped kissing.

Now, two days later, I’ve got a very small, smooth, slightly raised area on my top and bottom lip, right on the side where my lips had been swollen. No pain, no itching though.

My questions are:
1. If I’ve contracted OHSV1 from him, despite already having antibodies from my previous GHSV1 infection, do you think the antibodies I already have will help regarding recurrences/shedding of OHSV1?
2. He gave me oral sex, how likely is it that this “reactivates” my GHSV1 that I’ve had for 10 years, regarding frequency of shedding and outbreaks?
3. I gave him oral sex, how likely is it that I’ve spread it to his genitals since he’s already had OHSV1 for a few years apparently?

Many thanks in advance Terri!

[Terri Warren]

My questions are:

1. If I’ve contracted OHSV1 from him, despite already having antibodies from my previous GHSV1 infection, do you think the antibodies I already have will help regarding recurrences/shedding of OHSV1?
Yes, definitely, and it is also unlikely that you would acquire HSV 1 in a new location after having it genitally.

2. He gave me oral sex, how likely is it that this “reactivates” my GHSV1 that I’ve had for 10 years, regarding frequency of shedding and outbreaks?
Very unlikely. From a science perspective, there is nothing that would trigger a recurrence in this situation.

3. I gave him oral sex, how likely is it that I’ve spread it to his genitals since he’s already had OHSV1 for a few years apparently?
Very unlikely indeed.

Terri

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