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How Is HSV1 Transmitted?
Question: My partner just told me he has a cold sore. He hadn't had one since he was 10 so he never mentioned it before. But I know what that is... HSV1. I've never had a cold sore before so I'm concerned that HSV1 could have spread to me since we had relations a couple days previous. Can someone please tell me the likelihood of contraction- both oral and genital (via oral sex)? I want to understand how serious the situation actually is since most sex education sites just say if you have it, don't ever have unprotected oral or typical sex. That's not necessarily an answer, and I'm looking for more solid information to determine how to handle this situation.
Brief Answer:
In the absence of recurrence HSV transmission is unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
HSV 1 is not a STD.
HSV 1 in childhood is common may people would have experienced and nothing serious.
Only if there is frequent recurrences of HSV 1 with your friend, there is a possibility of transmission either during kissing or through oral sex. During and around recurrences there could be a viral shedding and infect others. If there is no recurrences for years then there is unlikely for the transmission of virus.
Dr S.Murugan
In the absence of recurrence HSV transmission is unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
HSV 1 is not a STD.
HSV 1 in childhood is common may people would have experienced and nothing serious.
Only if there is frequent recurrences of HSV 1 with your friend, there is a possibility of transmission either during kissing or through oral sex. During and around recurrences there could be a viral shedding and infect others. If there is no recurrences for years then there is unlikely for the transmission of virus.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thanks for your answer. Very helpful. 2 more questions...
1) How long should we wait after the sore has gone away to start having relations again?
2) As a follow-up, if someone had multiple recurrences of HSV1, how easy/difficult is it to transfer HSV1 via kissing or oral sex? (When there is no outbreak.)
1) How long should we wait after the sore has gone away to start having relations again?
2) As a follow-up, if someone had multiple recurrences of HSV1, how easy/difficult is it to transfer HSV1 via kissing or oral sex? (When there is no outbreak.)
Brief Answer:
Suppressive therapy for HSV can prevent the transmission.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
First of all, once again I assure you that Herpes infection is not a life threatening one. So you must not necessarily be too anxious about the same.
1. Viral shedding can occur in absence of the manifestations. There is no hard and fast rules that how long it could persist. In medicine we can say the probabilities and not the exact number.
Viral shedding usually persists a week prior and after an attack. So it is very difficult to predict the days of contagiousness.
2. Though we may not be able to predict the probabilities of chances of getting HSV infection during the absence of any lesion due to viral shedding, the transmission of a fresh infection to the sexual partners can be prevented by taking a suppressive therapy for six months to one year.
Dr S.Murugan
Suppressive therapy for HSV can prevent the transmission.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
First of all, once again I assure you that Herpes infection is not a life threatening one. So you must not necessarily be too anxious about the same.
1. Viral shedding can occur in absence of the manifestations. There is no hard and fast rules that how long it could persist. In medicine we can say the probabilities and not the exact number.
Viral shedding usually persists a week prior and after an attack. So it is very difficult to predict the days of contagiousness.
2. Though we may not be able to predict the probabilities of chances of getting HSV infection during the absence of any lesion due to viral shedding, the transmission of a fresh infection to the sexual partners can be prevented by taking a suppressive therapy for six months to one year.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Brief Answer:
Acyclovir can be used as suppressive therapy in low dose.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Acyclovir, Famcyclovir or Valcyclovir are the drugs used to treat Herpes infection. These drugs can also be used to suppress the recurrence in the sub-therapeutic doses about which your Dermato-venereologist will explain better when you have a consultation with him/her.
HSV 2 is strictly a Sexually transmitted infection and it can not be transmitted to other parts of body other than ano-genital region whereas HIV 1 can be transmitted to genitals through oral sex, especially when there is a fresh lesion near the mouth. There is no statistics about its frequency of transmission when there is no lesion, except the fact that it can also be transmitted before and after a a fresh attack due to viral shedding. But nothing to worry as this chance is very much less.
Dr S.Murugan
Acyclovir can be used as suppressive therapy in low dose.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Acyclovir, Famcyclovir or Valcyclovir are the drugs used to treat Herpes infection. These drugs can also be used to suppress the recurrence in the sub-therapeutic doses about which your Dermato-venereologist will explain better when you have a consultation with him/her.
HSV 2 is strictly a Sexually transmitted infection and it can not be transmitted to other parts of body other than ano-genital region whereas HIV 1 can be transmitted to genitals through oral sex, especially when there is a fresh lesion near the mouth. There is no statistics about its frequency of transmission when there is no lesion, except the fact that it can also be transmitted before and after a a fresh attack due to viral shedding. But nothing to worry as this chance is very much less.
Dr S.Murugan
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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