Odds of acquiring GHSV1 after OHSV1

[jesparza.8]

Hi Terri,

I (23F) have GHSV1 from a positive swab test about 7 years ago from receiving oral sex from my first boyfriend when I was a virgin. To my knowledge, I have had only maybe 1 other outbreak that resembled the first and that was immediately after my initial outbreak.

I have been dating my current boyfriend (28M) for 5 months. He said he thinks he has OHSV1 because he used to and sometimes currently gets sores in his nose when he’s stressed. He said previously if it gets bad it has traveled right below his nose. When he told me this it sounded like HSV1 to me. A month ago, he developed a cold sore on his lip (this was a few days after performing some pretty intense oral on me). He said he never had one on his lip before. This seemed like an initial outbreak to me as he had swollen lymph nodes and felt rundown too. Since then it healed pretty quickly and he’s fine. But this made me worried that he did not have previous HSV1 infection and that he acquired it from my GHSV1. In conclusion, if he did, my worry now is that he will get GHSV1 from me if I am contagious, which I was under the impression I really was not.

My confusion about this virus stems from the fact that I did not acquire a cold sore from my first boyfriend, but somehow acquired GHSV1 from him. My questions are:

1. Why did I not get a cold sore on my mouth since I had kissed my previous boyfriend and HSV1 prefers the mouth?
2. What are the odds my current boyfriend will get GHSV1 from me now that he has shown symptoms for OHSV1?
3. Is it likely he already caught GHSV1 now from me and just only showed symptoms orally?
4. Will the antibodies from his cold sore prevent him from getting GHSV infection now?

My hope is now that he got a cold sore he will not have symptoms and is safe from GHSV, but I’m going crazy worrying that will happen to him. It would kill me knowing I gave him OHSV AND GHSV. 🙁

[Terri Warren]

1. Why did I not get a cold sore on my mouth since I had kissed my previous boyfriend and HSV1 prefers the mouth?
In my experience, I more often see women who receive oral sex getting it only genitally, but not orally, even though kissing happened also. I have seen it in both locations, of course, but more often, only genitally. I think the genital tissue and the usually rather prolonged contact with the oral virus from their partner make transmission more likely.

2. What are the odds my current boyfriend will get GHSV1 from me now that he has shown symptoms for OHSV1?
Very very unlikely.

3. Is it likely he already caught GHSV1 now from me and just only showed symptoms orally?
No, if he gets sores in his nose, he already had this – he didn’t get it from you. The virus just traveled on a slightly different nerve to get to his lip rather than his nose.

4. Will the antibodies from his cold sore prevent him from getting GHSV infection now?
Very likely they will. I have only seen one case in person of someone getting HSV 1 genitally after having a cold sore orally and one person online reported to me that it had happened to them. This is in 40 years of practice. So is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? Not at all.

Terri

[jesparza.8]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for your response! This definitely gives me some relief. I do have a couple follow up questions.

1. Is it common to get swollen lymph nodes with a recurrent infection? His nose sores are frequent, don’t blister, and don’t come with any other symptoms. I believe it HAS blistered in the past though. Is it possible since it was traveling along a new nerve path that new symptoms accompanied?

2. How common is it to have neuralgia from GHSV1? I frequently get a dull ache in my right leg (sometimes both). It started around the time I acquired GHSV.

[Terri Warren]

1. Is it common to get swollen lymph nodes with a recurrent infection? His nose sores are frequent, don’t blister, and don’t come with any other symptoms. I believe it HAS blistered in the past though. Is it possible since it was traveling along a new nerve path that new symptoms accompanied?

Most people don’t get swelling in lymph nodes with recurrences, but some certainly do. Are the sores inside his nose? If yes, how can he know if they are blistered or not?

2. How common is it to have neuralgia from GHSV1? I frequently get a dull ache in my right leg (sometimes both). It started around the time I acquired GHSV.
Prodrome can cause pain down the back of the leg but I would be surprised if frequent leg pain would be associated genital HSV 1 infection because normally, it is a pretty quiet infection.

Terri

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