Genital herpes due to HSV-1

Question:

I have read that about 50% of primary outbreak cases of genital herpes are caused by HSV-1. Wow, this surprised me as the figures are huge and probably millions of Americans are infected with genital herpes caused by HSV-1.

My questions are, do they reoccur frequently, or the breakouts keep coming back for a small percentage of people. While many would only get primary outbreaks and hardly anything after that.

Is not having oral sex the only way of not passing the infection to others.

Answer:

I know it’s correct that HSV-I is the cause of 1/3 to 1/2 of the NEW genital Herpes cases.

It’s not certain if it’s correct that of all genital Herpes cases, 90% are HSV-II and 10% are HSV-I. But if that stat is correct, it could still make sense that when you include ALL the old, existing genital Herpes cases, HSV-II still makes up the bulk of them, even if among the NEW cases, HSV-I is contributing to nearly half of them.

Yes, abstaining from receiving oral sex from partners who have OHSV-I or using barrier protection is the only way to really prevent the chance of getting GHSV-I. But, typically GHSV-I is milder, causing fewer outbreaks, sometimes less severe OBs, and the rate of asymptomatic shedding is very low, making transmission of GHSV-I rare in the absence of symptoms.

HSV1 vs. HSV2 clarification

Question:

Can you catch HSV2 via oral sex? I was reading various informational sites so I can get more familiar with this virus and I don’t know if I am misinterpreting some of the information.

I was always taught and have read that you can have oral HSV1 and genital HSV1…and I know about genital HSV2, but can someone catch oral HSV2 by performing oral sex on someone with genital HSV2?

And if that is true, then that would mean they have cold sores caused by HSV2. I just never heard of that, so I am little confused.

Also, my boyfriend and I are both positive for HSV2. Do I have to worry about him catching HSV2 in his mouth if he performs oral sex on me?

Answer:

Yes but it does not happen often. In fact it is considered rare. Even if someone gets oral hsv2, they would be extremely unlikely to have outbreaks since hsv2 does not like the mouth area.

As always with herpes, anything is possible. So, while it is possible it is improbable.

Additionally, both you and your b/f have the same virus so you both have the antibodies that will protect you from getting this virus anywhere else on your body. Getting oral HSVII is rare and even rarer if you already have a HSVII infection. Just avoid oral sex or any sex during an OB.