gHSV1 and gHSV2 , which one is worse?

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I've been waiting for my test results and they finally came in. I have genital herpes HSV 2. I have been reading like crazy on the difference between the two but every site says differently. The last site said that HSV1 is more risky and more infectious. Is this true? Im hoping so considering I have HSV2. Also..does this mean I can't have sex anymore? I'm only 19 and this is very shocking and I'm not even sure how to handle this.

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4 Replies

  • Posted

    Handle taking all of everything one step at a time. Don't think it matters as far as which is worse, both types have different effects. Try to learn what is relevant to your situation, come up with questions that are coming up from your body experiences, then seek out the answers. There really is no correct or incorrect feeling about this virus. All comes from within ourselves.

    As far as medical advice seek your doctor for medical answers. As far as opinions from fellow peers this site is a great way to seek truthful opinions.

    You will be intimate again, but the next time you are you will be / should be a lot more cautious.

    Stay true ?

  • Posted

    So sorry to hear it's definitely herpes. In terms of outbreak frequency, asymptomatic shedding and transmission, gHSV1 is unfortunately the better one of the two to have, not gHSV2. Most websites that explain the differences should tell you that, except the one you last visited. Maybe they were referring to the first outbreak only? That can be worse with gHSV1. A trade-off of sorts.

    There are fortunately daily suppressive meds you can take to reduce outbreaks, shedding and transmission, plus with condoms as well, the transmission risk can be made pretty low, especially after the first few months to a year of infection (when viral shedding is typically higher). Check out the CDC and ASHA for reliable info.

  • Edited

    I was recently diagnosed with HSV2 as well and still trying to deal with outbreaks. My doctor told me that HSV2 only stays in the genitals. Which I guess it good news. While HSV1 spreads to both oral and genital. You will have sex again. Try looking up Ella Dawson's Ted talk on YouTube. It's amazing. So Is her blog.

    • Edited

      HSV2 strongly *prefers* the genitals, but is not restricted to the genitals. HSV1 can spread to other parts, true, but should not do so once you've developed antibodies. Having HSV1 only genitally poses little risk to sexual partners, as oral HSV1 is what is more infectious, not so much genital HSV1. Ella Dawson has gHSV1, which I suspect is why she is so open about it. In terms of shedding and thus the potential to infect others, from most to least it's gHSV2, oHSV1, gHSV1, oHSV2. However, herpes doesn't pass with each encounter. It depends on the individuals and circumstances, plus there are meds to suppress shedding. So, sex is certainly possible even with gHSV2. Just need to take precautions, etc.

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