HSV-1 contracted vaginally?! Questions about this condition.

Posted , 3 users are following.

So I found a bump on the vajayjay and since I'm very health conscious about my lady parts, I went a got it checked. She shrugged it off but I wanted to be sure so I asked her to culture. Turns out it me HSV type 1, the type hat normally manifests on the face. The thing is, the guy I've been with for 2 months, I've never seen him have anything close to a cold sore, like ever. So I'm just a little confused on how that could've happened especially because it's pretty rare to transmit hsv1 to genitals since it doesn't typically manifest there. So my question is, could he have been exposed as a kid or sometime in adolescense or sometime college and never have ever gotten a cold sore, or at least a noticeable one and transmitted it to me genitally through oral? Because I've read that it's easiest for someone to get hsv1 on the vagina if they've never been exposed to the virus because if they were already exposed, their antibodies would have likely fought it off. Answers would be very much appreciated. I don't blame him because he probably didn't even know and it's just so common but I just want to know, you know?

Also, I've heard that because HSV 1 isn't normally around the genitals, most people don't have any outbreaks after their first one or rarely have them after the first outbreak? Is this true?

Am I supposed to tell future partners, "hey so I have hsv1" but don't outbreak so we all good? Or what do you say? I'm so scared that will completely scare people away...

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    I have your exact same question as I'm literally going through the same thing. I wish I could help you but maybe someone on this thread can help two people! What did your dr say?

    • Posted

      She just said, oh it's no biggie, recurrent breakouts down there are rare or sometimes don't ever happen again. I didn't get a chance to ask her the question about the possibilities of the situation above rolleyes

  • Posted

    It's possible to have herpes and be asymptomatic. That applies to both HSV1 and HSV2, oral and genital. So, yes, your bf could be an asymptomatic carrier and able to transmit via asymptomatic shedding. You are correct about genital HSV1. For most people, it rarely recurs. It is also far less infectious than genital HSV2.

    Personally, I think genital HSV1 disclosure is optional, especially if you rarely ever have recurrences (others will no doubt strongly disagree with this, however). Alternatively, you can just say you carry the cold sore virus, which is incredibly common orally (and more infectious orally, I should add), but not necessarily indicate where, unless you want to.

    • Posted

      How do I tell him that I think he may have transmitted this to me through oral sex? Should he go get a blood test to see if the IgG antibodies are present? What if he tries to turn it around on me or goes and tells people about this? Gosh I'm so scared

    • Posted

      Casually ask him (somehow!) if he ever had cold sores as a child. If so, then you can take it from there. Refer to your own lesions as cold sores, not herpes. The HerpeSelect IgG test is less accurate for HSV1 than HSV2, supposedly missing 1 out of 4 cases. At the end of the day, you know him best, so you'll have to decide if and how to inform him. It's never easy, but good luck!

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