Newly diagnosed and seeking advice on self transmission.

[iknowiknow]

Hi Terri,

I am recently diagnosed with ghsv1 which I contracted from my partner who is also ghsv1 positive. I am only a month into the diagnosis and am on a second outbreak whereas she is 4 years and no subsequent outbreaks. My question is about transmission from sex during OBs. What are the risks to myself in sex during an OB of transmission to other parts of my body? I am on no antivirals at this point. Thank you.

[Terri Warren]

It is not uncommon in the first year of infection to have a few more outbreaks than you will in subsequent years as your immune system becomes more familiar with this virus. Once you have HSV for about four months, it is very unlikely that you would ever get this in a new location. Most people with genital HSV one infection don’t take antiviral medicine but if you continue to have documented recurrences, you could use medication suppressively for a few months to see how that goes.

You didn’t ask me about this but if she’s been infected for four years with genital HSV-1, the likelihood of you acquiring this through intercourse is astronomically small. Did you have a swab test that was positive for HSV one and an antibody test that was negative for HSV one at the time of your first symptoms?

Terri

• This reply was modified 1 week, 5 days ago by Terri Warren.

[iknowiknow]

Hi Terri thanks for the answer. I had a swab test positive for HSV1 and my partner has had positive tests for HSV1 one. We think it was spread by cold sore as she had one recently. In terms of sexual intercourse, would you recommend abstaining from it during OB even if both are positive? Spreading it is the only concern and wondering how likely I am to spread it to myself. Also aware there’s not hard science on an answer to this. Thanks.

[Terri Warren]

That makes sense, for sure – she could have given this to you from a cold sore – I thought you were implying that you got it from intercourse with her, stating that she has genital HSV 1.
I would not advise abstaining from intercourse if you are both positive, no. It is very unlikely that you would spread it to a new location on your body. In all of my years of practice specializing in herpes, I have only had ONE patient who said she had a history of cold sore and got genital HSV 1.

Terri

[iknowiknow]

Thanks, Terri that makes a lot of sense. I think it was just random luck to contract it from a cold sore during intercourse but being both positive it does give us a sense of peace of mind somewhat. Thanks for your answers.

[Terri Warren]

You’re welcome

Terri

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