Ghsv1 Disclosure
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi guys, I would need some advice. I Contracted HSV 1 genitally through oral sex in June. The guy I was dating told me he never had a cold sore, but as I've learned, the majority of hsv1 infected people are asymptomatic carriers so couldn't really blame him. sigh.
from June I so far didn't have any symptoms. I have talked to two doctors who both have different opinions. One said that almost everyone carries HSV1 already or get exposed to it before they turn 30, so according to him it is not something that needs disclosure also because it's no nearly as contagious and recurrent genitally as it is orally, since the virus only likes its natural habitat. Another doctor by contrast told me complete bullsh*t by telling me that hsv 1 and two are the same and behave the same on the genital area. He suggested me suppressive therapy which I refused. I did a lot of research and apparently as a female I have a slightly 2% chance in a year to pass this to someone (without condoms or meds) and that would have to be someone that does not have it orally already as I cant give it back to someone that already has antibodies to it, which is the majority of the people. As far as I understood, my risk of spreading this is almost non existent. What do you think? I dont feel like saying that I have "genital herpes", its more like I contracted the cold sore virus through the "wrong" place. I also read that it might recur once a year in the first year and still very unlikely more than a few times in a life time. I have read that only 20%, 30% of hsv1 ever recurs in the genital area, while by contrast hsv2 recurs in almost 80% of cases. The two behave differently, and I do not feel like I pose the same risk as if I was HSV2 positive. I think I will disclose that I carry the HSV1 virus and encourage the partner to get tested for it as well as he would statistically be more than likely to carry it already and then talk about protection in case he tests negative. What do you think? would love to hear your opinon.
1 like, 15 replies
Ahhh123 emma58446
Posted
did you have a break out after you were with him? was he tested to know if he did have it?
nunyabiz emma58446
Posted
Ummmmm no. You need to disclose. Oral herpes is one thing, genital is another and honestly youre just making excuses for yourself. Herpes 1 and 2 pretty much behave the same way. So, yes you need to disclose. It's gonna be hard but don't be that person that gives it to someone else carelessly
emma58446 nunyabiz
Posted
then perhaps you should educate yourself more on the matter. HSV1 and HSV2 are two different viruses. They do not at all behave in the same way, especially when contracted in different locations from their preferred ones. HSV1 remains oral herpes contracted in the wrong spot. It doesn't magically turn into HSV2. As I've never came across anyone who discloses Oral HSV1 that could cause genital infections, I do not see why I should behave differently while I have the exact same thing. Of course I will disclose I have HSV1. Basically 80% of the population would turn positive on an antibody test for it. And just so you know, HSV1 sheds from the mouth 25-30% of the time in one year while on the genitals like 2%. Do your research before claiming peole are making "excuses".
Ahhh123 emma58446
Posted
now that i have been educated that oral herpes can be transferred to the genitals even without sores present i will always disclose HSv1 and the risk factors and let them decided
nunyabiz emma58446
Posted
LOL first of all, emma. im very much educated on it as well as information from a doctor herself. You ALWAYS disclose before having sex that you have a VIRUS! for one, condoms dont always prevent transmission. They are two different viruses but are both very transmittable. I may have misread, but it seemed like you didnt want to tell your partner because its type 1. That's why i was saying youre making excuses not to tell the person. My mistake, again i misread. But I do encourage you to disclose them. I have the same virus as well in my mouth and Im struggling to share it with my new boyfriend. I have a cold sore as I write this. He should get tested first cause honestly he might have it orally since its so common. You never know.
Ahhh123 nunyabiz
Posted
im not emma lol , i was asking you since your educated, how many days a year does hsv 1 orally shed? i have it on my mouth but only have a breakout maybe once couole years now. the person i am woth tested negative for both . he knows i have it but i am scared to give oral sex now . so many people i know say oh ive never had an issue but im scared! especially since he doesnt have it.
nunyabiz Ahhh123
Posted
i wasnt responding to you when i said that. i messaged you back btw to answer your questions
mk2389 nunyabiz
Posted
This is WILDLY incorrect. I believe in disclosure, however what you said about oral vs genital is part of the reason why this is such a damn problem.
If you have genital hsv1, you are significantly less likely to transmit it than if you have oral hsv1. In fact, the majority of genital herpes infections are ocurring these days because people who have it orally aren't disclosing and are giving it to people via oral sex. Educate yourself.
xDx91xPi emma58446
Posted
I come from a medical back ground with a lot of experience in infectious diseases and also have herpes myself! Hvs1 and Hsv2 are very very similar in their DNA make up! To say one is worse or poses less risk then the other just adds to the large amount of stigma surrounding herpes and other stds.
You still have genital herpes at the end of the day and regardless unless you are on suppressive therapy and using condoms you don't know if you are virally shedding! Which for hsv1 genitally is 27-30 days out of the year of which you do not know your shedding! Hsv2 is only slightly higher at 35-42 days! Saying this the virus effects everyone on an individual basis and I know of people with hsv1 having more outbreaks then hsv2!
I think that even questioning disclosure is extremely selfish. Think of how you felt being diagnosed-you didn't have a choice in the matter. Why would you do it to someone else?
I'd really like to give you some names of people who do some active work in eliminating stigmas and giving evidence based education to people living with and without herpes; if you would like them?
Ahhh123 xDx91xPi
Posted
question , i am afraid to give oral now that i learned it can be passed with no sores (have hsv1 oral) how often does one shed hsv 1 oral on the mouth. should i not worry? i was with someone for 17years and never knew that but he never got anything thankfully.
xDx91xPi Ahhh123
Posted
was he tested? because could have got something and lived asymptomatically with it!
just air on the side of caution! you could give them the option "hey i get coldsores, are you okay with this or would you like to use protection".
the longer you have the virus the weaker it is and the less it sheds!
anon56922 emma58446
Posted
Disclose, disclose, disclose. Yes, it's embarrassing. But educating him on the facts regarding the strain you have and the minimal risk of exposure is the least you can do. I've only had to disclose my GHSV-1 status to one girl. That conversation was well over a year ago. She took it in stride, acknowledged that she was aware that more people had the virus than not, and still decided to move forward with a relationship. We remain an item...
Ahhh123 anon56922
Posted
question? do you have unprotected sex and oral ? are you on suppressive theropy? has she gotten it? happy you found someone
anon56922 Ahhh123
Posted
We no longer use protection, and yes, I am on suppressive therapy. In the time since learning I have GHSV-1 (about 16 months ago), I've only had one possible recurrence. I say possible because I had a couple of sore spots a few months ago, but that was a couple of days after shaving. We avoided contact just to be on the safe side. After 15 months of dating, she has remained HSV-1 free.
Ahhh123 anon56922
Posted
thats great , i have hsv 1 orally. ever since i learned it can be transfered with no outbreak i am terrified to give oral