GHSV1 Transmission

[cece35]

I was just diagnosed with genital HSV1 via culture of two lesions on my labia done on 7/14/15. My IgG levels from blood work taken on the same day follow:
HSV1 .23 Index
HSV2 .11 Index
These levels tell me that my infection was recent (on July 9 probably). My partner has a history of cold sores, so presumably he has HSV1. I was given a 7 day course of Valtrex for the current infection and a daily dose of Valtrex to suppress shedding.

Here are my questions:
1. I know they chances of woman passes it to a man are 4% without condoms or meds, 2% with condoms or meds and 1% with meds and condoms. Do these stats apply to HSV1 as well as HSV2? I know genital to genital transmission rates of HSV1 are low, but it’s possible. Less than 1% with meds and condoms?
2. Are the chances even lower than the above stats if my partner already has HSV1 antibodies from cold sores?
3. Same question asked another way….Because my partner already has oral HSV1 and passed it on to me (Gee, thanks, honey :)), is he susceptible to a genital outbreak after unprotected sex with me (assuming no symptoms, prodrome and daily meds) or is he immune?
4. Could oral sex on me (with my GHSV1) bring about a cold sore outbreak on him?

[Terri Warren]

The statistics that you quote are for HSV 2 genital infection. Your risk will be much lower with HSV 1, though we don’t have actual statistics on this. We do know that HSV 1 genital shedding is far less. You don’t need to worry about transmission to your partner who gets cold sores because he already has this and is extremely unlikely to get it in a new location (i.e.genitals). And no, giving you oral sex will have absolutely no impact on him since he already has this.

Terri

[Author]

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