Transmission Question

[JoeH81217]

Hello Terri!

It’s been a while since I’ve been here and now have another question I need your expertise with.

I have been sexually involved with my current partner for roughly 4 months now. 2 days ago she started to get a rash near her left eye, so she went to the dermatologist.

He says she has HSV (they didn’t swab or do any tests on the rash/blister, so it wasn’t specified wether it was HSV 1 or 2). She was prescribed Valtrex. She’s had this reoccurring issue since her teenage years but whenever she went to the doctor nothing was diagnosed.

How concerned should I be about her transmitting HSV to me via kissing, oral sex and vaginal sex.

Her Dermatologist said it was okay to kiss and continue normally as long as I don’t touch the area.

In short. Am I safe to kiss her, give and receive oral sex, and have sex?

Thank you and I look forward to your response.

[Terri Warren]

It is so unfortunate that no swab testing was done. IF it is HSV , it is likely HSV 1 that traveled along the top branch of the trigeminal nerve group.. But we really don’t know for sure, do we?
If she has herpes by her eye, then she also has it in the nerve group of the mouth, so there is a risk you could acquire it by kissing and by receiving oral sex. it isn’t a high risk, but it is a risk. Have you been tested to know your HSV status? You could be infected and don’t know it.

Terri

[JoeH81217]

Thanks for the response!

Last time I was tested was in 2017 and was negative for HSV 1.

As far as going back to kissing and receiving oral sex, this is obviously a big part of our relationship and not something that would be easy to cut out all together.

Should I be waiting to kiss her until it’s healed?

When it is healed, what are the odds of me getting it?

Her dermatologist said she only has to take valtrex when she feels it coming or has an outbreak? Is this true or should it be taken every day?

Thank you!

[Terri Warren]

We don’t have any data on transmission of HSV 1 to a partner, either by kissing or giving oral sex. You’ve been kissing her and receiving oral sex from her for a while now and haven’t had symptoms of oral or genital herpes yes.

Personally, I think she should have an IgG test and see if she has HSV 1 or HSV 2, and perhaps you should do the same now. I visual exam can be incorrect.

Terri

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