OHSV1+GHSV1

[HSVAnon]

I believe I was infected with OHSV approx. 10 years ago. I was unaware of the infection and attributed the infrequent cold sores to in grown hairs on my lips from shaving

In 2020, my partnet contracted GHSV-1. This is how I connected the dots and realized I had likely infected her via oral sex.

I assumed that as I had likely passed on the infection that I would be immune to contracting GHSV-1 from this same partner.

Following a few weeks of continued unprotected sex, I experienced what I believe was an GHSV outbreak (painful sore for approx. 2 weeks.) I immediately went to my primary care Dr. who said there wasn’t enough to sample from the sore but ordered a blood test (non western blot.)

The blood test was negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2 and the sore healed. I have not experienced any sores in the genital area again but there have been some pangs of pain in the area of the years.

I had a reaccurance of OHSV and I guess I am confused on my status.

My two questions are;

1. Do my assumptions of my status (OHSV-1 and GHSV-1) make logical sense?

2. What are the odds of my passing on GHSV-1 to a future partner via intercourse and what are your thoughts on my need to disclose?

[Terri Warren]

1. Do my assumptions of my status (OHSV-1 and GHSV-1) make logical sense?
I honestly can’t say. If you do have HSV 1 orally, which we honestly don’t even know for sure, it is very unlikely that 10 years later you would get a new HSV 1 genital infection that would then go on to last two weeks. ingrown hairs on the lip really don’t look quite the same as oral HSV 1 but I suppose that they could be confused. ANd your partner may or not may have not acquired HSV 1 from you – she could have contracted it years before and just had a recurrences (unless she has never received oral sex from anyone in her life). It is all a bit uncertain to me.

2. What are the odds of my passing on GHSV-1 to a future partner via intercourse and what are your thoughts on my need to disclose?
Well, we have no idea that what you had was HSV 1 genital infection, first of all. Since you tested by antibody test immediately after the sore appeared, it could be HSV 2, it could be something else. We just don’t know.
And if you want to assume that you have HSV 1 orally, which we also don’t know for sure, I would recommend disclosing that prior to giving someone oral sex “Just so you know, I have the cold sore virus”.

If you were my patient, I would recommend the western blot. the IgG test misses 30% of HSV 1 infections.

You are making several assumptions here which may or may not actually be true.

Terri Warren

[Author]

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