Seeking. More info on hsv 1

[Seeking more info]

Hi
I have received confirmation that I have HSV 1 genital (swab results)after an initial outbreak I experienced with severe flu like symptoms, and a 10 day course of Valacyclovir.That is all behind me now (1 month ago)but I remain unclear on a few things and have some questions still. Most of my anxiety is around the topic of transmission to others.
1) I continue to experience a tingling sensation in my mid back and genital area, will taking Valacyclovir daily help to manage these symptoms and reduce risk of viral shedding/transmission?
2)In regards to transmission, if unprotected oral sex is performed to me what is the likelihood of passing this to my partner through oral sex? And will this then show up as oral hsv 1 on my partner? It can only show up as genital Hsv1 on a male through intercourse,Correct? (If I have never had a cold sore)
3)How do you recommend moving forward in addressing this with new partners? Is it reasonable to ask new partners to get a
Blood Type test to indicate if they already have antibodies to hsv type 1 to get information on if we need to worry about hsv 1
Being transmitted or not. My doctor did not provide clear information just said that because hsv is so widespread it
Isn’t a reportable Sti and it is up to weather you disclose or not as up to %70 already have exposure to hsv 1.

Thank you for your information.

[Terri Warren]

1) I continue to experience a tingling sensation in my mid back and genital area, will taking Valacyclovir daily help to manage these symptoms and reduce risk of viral shedding/transmission?

Yes, Valtrex will help to manage these symptoms, but as your body gets used to this infection, it takes a while to feel normal. If you are having sex with someone who already has HSV 1, transmission is not a worry nor is shedding.

2)In regards to transmission, if unprotected oral sex is performed to me what is the likelihood of passing this to my partner through oral sex? And will this then show up as oral hsv 1 on my partner? It can only show up as genital Hsv1 on a male through intercourse,Correct? (If I have never had a cold sore)

Are we talking about someone giving you oral sex who does not have HSV 1? Remember that 56% of the US population between 14 and 49 has HSV 1 so that would be uncommon. If it was transmitted to a partner it would show up as a cold sore, yes, assuming they are not already infected. And yes, if it was transmitted via intercourse it would show up genitally, just like for you.

3)How do you recommend moving forward in addressing this with new partners? Is it reasonable to ask new partners to get a
Blood Type test to indicate if they already have antibodies to hsv type 1 to get information on if we need to worry about hsv 1
Being transmitted or not. My doctor did not provide clear information just said that because hsv is so widespread it

Yes, I think it is reasonable to first ask if they have ever in their life had a cold sore (then they are no longer at risk of acquiring this) and then if not, and 70% of those infected with HSV 1 have no symptoms they can report, testing is a good idea. Remember that the usual screening test for HSV 1 misses 1 out of 4 infections, however.

Isn’t a reportable Sti and it is up to weather you disclose or not as up to %70 already have exposure to hsv 1.

It is not reportable, no. In some states, HSV 2 is reportable.

Terri

[Seeking more info]

Thank you. To clarify:

From your response” If it was transmitted to a partner it would show up as a cold sore, yes, assuming they are not already infected. And yes, if it was transmitted via intercourse it would show up genitally, just like for you” Are you suggesting that I likely was exposed to genital HSV 1 through unprotected sex rather then oral sex performed on me?

In regards to transmission risk/chance to my partner, I have informed my current partner that I have been exposed to HSV 1 and he reports never having a cold sore or any symptoms. I am continuing to take Valtrex daily as I have some prodrome tingling sensations still from time to time (initial out break Nov 6). Do you know how long after an initial GHSV1 outbreak that the prodrome symptoms can typically last for?

Moving forward,if I continue to take Valtrex daily, and practice protected sex is this enough to significantly reduce the risk of transmission to my partner? Would you recommend my partner getting a blood test? If he is positive for HSV 1, then it would be assumed we could have unprotected sex without worry of transmission, correct? Also If oral sex is performed on me, what is the risk of transmission without any prodrome symptoms and does the risk go up significantly if I am experiencing prodrome symptoms?

thank you, this is a helpful resource.

[Terri Warren]

It is more likely that you acquired HSV 1 from receiving oral sex than from unprotected intercourse.
You have certainly been exposed to HSV 1 but a more correct explanation of your situation is that you are infected with HSV 1 genitally. Exposed implies something quite different, I think.
Just because your partner has never experienced (or remembered) a cold sore does not mean that he is not infected. An antibody test would be useful to confirm that he is not indeed infected with HSV 1 (or HSV 2 for that matter).
As for the duration of prodrome, it’s so individual, I really can’t say for sure. Some people never have what you are having and others have it for a few months.
Unfortunately, we don’t have statistics on how likely it is that you would infect your partner orally if he gave you oral sex, but I think it is quite low if you are on suppression, prodrome or not because I’m not 100% sure what you are having is prodrome anyway.

Terri

Terri

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