– what would my transmission rate be at this point? With condoms? With condoms and antivirals or antivirals on their own?
We don’t have data on genital to genital transmission of HSV 1 but it is exceedingly rare. Condoms reduce transmission of HSV 2 by 96% and antivirals by 48%. Those numbers would be at least as good for transmission of HSV 1 if not better.
– I still get mild symptoms here and there but they are manageable so far without the use of of antivirals, but do you think taking them daily will help reduce shedding ?
Yes
-about how much will I be shedding at this point and how long will it take to greatly reduce?
We know that once people have had genital HSV 1 for two years, they shed virus on about 4 days out of a year
– if I take antivirals now wand get off them will I go back higher levels of shedding or will my body have built enough antibodies to keep the shedding low ?
Coming off antivirals will not increase your shedding, no.
Exactly how were you diagnosed with genital HSV 1?
Terri