[needhelp03]

Thanks Terri. Your response also slipped past me. So, how have you counseled patients on disclosing this in the past given these statistics? Would you say that, before any foreplay/hooking up, I should ask them to get tested by blood test to see if they have HSV-1? That way, if they test positive, we know the chances are super super slim for them to contract this from me both genitally and orally?

I also want to make sure I am understanding this correctly…if they do NOT have HSV-1 and have never had a cold sore, there is a very small chance they could get it on their mouth by giving me oral sex? And the same with genitally if we have unprotected sex? I know you said if they test positive for HSV-1 it’s extremely unlikely they would get it genitally from me, I just want to make sure I am clear before I encounter this conversation with someone.

Lastly, since this is a new diagnosis for me, would you recommend I wait awhile to see if symptoms come up again? I would love to be in that 88% of people that have a one time occurrence, but if I am not, don’t I risk exposing someone to this more? I just don’t want to put someone else in the position I have been put in.

As always, appreciate all the help.

[needhelp03]

Thank you so much for your reply, I appreciate the time and information provided.

I would be more comfortable having the conversation beforehand, because I feel that I would want to know the information (and wish I had known/understood the risks before I was exposed in this case) if I was on their side of things. I fear that most men won’t understand my case and will think I am lying or have GHSV2 because it seems pretty unknown for this to happen, or at least I had no idea what the risks were until I was diagnosed and did all my research.

Are the statistics true that GHSV1 sheds between 3 – 5% of the time for everyone? Or is that for people that have GHSV1 that presents like GHSV2?

In your previous answer you said they are “extremely unlikely” to get it from me genitally. Is that in general? Or if they have tested positive for HSV1? I thought if they tested positive for HSV1 antibody, they can’t get it from me either orally or genitally? Or was your statement about testing positive for HSV1 antibody related to the answer to my question about transmitting it orally to them during oral sex? When you say it “isn’t likely” to transmit this orally to someone giving me oral sex, what constitutes “not likely”? I deal with data for a living, so statistics make more sense to me.

Thanks again!

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