Potential partner has herpes – what to know?

[Spartan040]

I’m really interested in this girl that I’ve known for a couple years now. She recently told me a couple months ago that she has genital HSV-1, with her first outbreak occurring a little over 2 years ago, when she was 23 (she thinks it was from when she was sexually assaulted). She says she hasn’t had any outbreaks since then even without using suppressive therapy, and she is otherwise very healthy. I am also a very healthy 26 year old male and I very rarely get sick, top notch immune system. I’ve had one STI (chlamydia) before, nothing since. Never been tested for herpes antibodies.

Naturally, I’m concerned about asymptomatic shedding. From the latest research that I can find, it seems that with genital HSV-1, the shedding rate is about 1.6% of days a year after 2 years of infection. And that widely accepted transmission chances for female to uninfected male, for any genital herpes, are 4% without a condom or antivirals, 2% with a condom or anti-virals, and 1% with both. Overall, it *seems* like the chances are low, but she possibly got her infection by one-time random chance, and I’ve heard similar stories from other people (including those whose partners were asymptomatic for years) that have gotten me a little freaked out

How likely am I to remain safe in the long term? Should I avoid performing oral sex on her? Should I always use a condom? Would it be worth it to see if I already have the antibodies? Are the commonly available tests reliable?

What else should I know?

[Terri Warren]

You are correct about the shedding rate but the transmission statistics you list are for HSV 2 not HSV 1. They are WAY higher for HSV 2, the chances of transmission of genital HSV 1 are very low indeed, far lower than for HSV 2.
It might be good to do an IgG test for HSV 1 to see if you are already infected – about 47% of people 14-49 do have HSV 1 infection.
I think the chances of you acquiring HSV 1 either through intercourse or giving her oral sex are very low – both. Condoms would reduce the risk as might daily antiviral meds for her

Terri

[Spartan040]

That makes sense, but, if the chances are so low of genital-to-genital transmission of HSV-1, how did my girl get initially infected from a one-time encounter? Unless one of the men who assaulted her was very recently infected or had an open sore himself? I suppose it’s possible some oral-to-genital contact could have happened but I wouldn’t consider it likely in that scenario.

Is it possible that she was previously infected by one of her partners in the past, and it was simply the trauma of her experience that caused her initial outbreak?

[Terri Warren]

She certainly could have been infected prior to the assault OR there was oral contact OR the person who did the assault was recently infected, as you mentioned. Those are the possibilities here

Terri

[Spartan040]

Alright, so, she and I met up and had sex (a lot) over the course of 6 days. I elected not to use a condom because she was on BC and the risk of transmission seemed incredibly low. But, I noticed yesterday (day 6) that the very top of my throat was ever so slightly sore (like a muscle ache, not strep throat sore), on the left and right, but only when I swallow, not noticeable otherwise. It’s maybe a 1 on the pain scale.

Now, I realize the chances of her just happening to shed enough of a viral load at any point in the first 3 or 4 days we were together to infect me are incredibly slim. But, I have heard tell that initial herpes infection is often accompanied by flu-like symptoms (including sore throat) and can show as early as 2 to 4 days? Additionally, I’ve been having somewhat watery bowel movements, and a little more gas than normal (which I believe can also be a sign of viral infection?). It’s these two things that have gotten me a tad paranoid/worried.

I haven’t noticed any swollen lymph nodes, there’s no pain or tingling or burning or itching in my groin region, I don’t see anything that looks like a herpes outbreak, but it might be a little hard to tell since I have a good deal of razor burn/bumps going on down there (which is causing some minor itching). I also have seasonal allergies and I was in particularly dry air, which could also have contributed to the sore throat.

Thoughts?

[Terri Warren]

I don’t think your GI symptoms have anything to do with herpes. And I doubt the sore throat has anything to do with herpes either but if you are concerned, you could get a throat swab that includes herpes.

Do you know for certain that you don’t have HSV 1? About half the population has it so I’m just wondering

Terri

• This reply was modified 3 weeks, 1 day ago by Terri Warren.

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