The Truth About HSV1, HSV2, and Oral Sex

I'm looking for the answer to the same question.  I have type 2 and wonder about receiving oral sex.  I also wonder if there is any risk in transmitting anything to someone if I give oral sex.  It's confusing when both types can show up in the other places.

I'm looking for the answer to the same question.  I have type 2 and wonder about receiving oral sex.  I also wonder if there is any risk in transmitting anything to someone if I give oral sex.  It's confusing when both types can show up in the other places.

Same here! Mine gave me Type 1 (in both oral form and genitals though) and wondering what the limitations are if he has no symptoms.. can we even kiss without giving either of us an outbreak?!

You can't give them back a virus they already have...you can't catch hsv 1 twice...he's had it long enough to build up anitbodies so that if won't spread to any other part of his body....

'You can't give them back a virus they already have...you can't catch hsv 1 twice...he's had it long enough to build up anitbodies so that if won't spread to any other part of his body....'

    Actually this in incorrect...While it's true that you can't catch HSV1 or HSV2 "again" you can definitely infect a new area with the same virus...So if you have HSV1 on tour mouth...and you perform Oral sex on your partners genitals...you could transmit HSV1 to their genitals...giving them GHSV1...once the partner has the GHSV1 and they now have sexual intercourse with you they can transmit GHSV1 to YOUR genitals....same virus, but infection is spread to a different area.

How did you find out you had both? My bf just gave me oral herpes but no sign of genital.

Hi all

I've had HSV 1 on genitals since age 15.  Married to one woman for 9 years.  The relationships I have since then have been all ltr.  3 to 5 years. 

As far as I know I've never passed it on.  And yes I do still have contact with all. Usually have indications that it's about to happen and do not have sex at that time. 

Luckily all have been understanding about it and I've always explaned what I have and how it could affect them. 

I'm 45 y/o with 3 kids.  No complications there either.

I dated one person with type 2 that I found out after the fact.  That was 10 years ago and I have no sign of that present. 

Dealing with this for 30 years I've found some things that help.  Listerine applied with Q-tip really helps with the itching and uncomfortabiness and healing. And the latest I've tried is Diabeti-Derm.  Bought that for rough cracking skin on my hands since I use them alot in my work.  Hope to let you know more about how that works.

Anyway... 30 years and no complaints.  And dumb me didn't use condoms and still don't due to trust prior to intercourse.  But I did get fixed.. No more babies. 

I have an outbreak about once every year and a half.. very mild and what i've applied gives comfort if not healing.

My 2 cents.

As far as you know you have never passed it on, but 60% of people with the virus never show any symptoms, so unless you have been tested and know you don't have the virus you very well could have.

Hi, I just found out a little over a month ago that I had herpes and Im taking it to well but im trying to get over it. I want to know what do you mean by viral shedding less than 1%

How did you find out which type you had? I had a culture done and my doc said you tell between the differnce.

shedding type 2 oral is the most rare shedding out of all the forms of hsv shedding, and then for someone to catch it from a kiss is even more unlikely unless u have a blister, which is also unlikely. lol I say don't worry about it...ppl with oral hsv type 1 never say anything before they kiss someone and they're more likely to pass it kissing than someone with oral type 2.

AGREED!

ive had oral sex with a fellow that im falling in love with  i have herpes 2 i think since its not in the mouth area  my outbreaks have always been either on the leg or buttocks.  ive been symptom free for two years with the help of valtrex   wondering how to tell this love of mine about this  and do i have to have protected sex since ive never had it vaginally

Hi there,

I think that Dr. Grayson meant that almost all HSV 2 infections happen in the gentials (as opposed to the mouth).  Meaning that if you have type 2, it will most likely occur in the genitals and not your mouth.

I believe that you are implying that 80% of people who are infected in the gentials have HSV 2 (as opposed to HSV 1). This means that HSV 1 is more likely to occur in the genitals, more so than HSV 2 is likely to occur in the mouth. 

It took me a while to draw the distiction but I think that you are both correct.

I hope this clarifies.

Thank u i agree. I think i may have type 2 on my mouth to & i do have a previous type 1 infection on my mouth.

I have a coment to make on this what is the actual chance of getting hsv 2 in the mouth?and is the first hsv 2 outbreak easy to distinguish from an hsv 1 outbreak of the mouth?Id really like this question answered as no forum or website i have come across has succesfully answered this question yet.

thank you

I have hsv2 in the mouth, specifically the throat and it is rare.  It was not obvious to see yet the test were positive and I was floored.  Each time I have a flare up it doesn't look obvious, but I feel it and I know.  My husband of 14 years does not have it.

im ready to agree but ive got this really great guy that i wouldnt want to lose due to witholding info.  i just cant seem to tell him either.  oh how do u break the news?

Well, do you KNOW you have it? An actual diagnosis from a doctor? A blood test? If so, then from what I understand you can actually face legal repercussions for not disclosing. I don't know how true this is (and if it is, it's stupid, but hey).

On the other hand, if you don't have a formal diagnosis, then you don't really 'know' either. You suspect, perhaps, but you don't know. Hell, even if you do have a formal diagnosis, no one knows that but you. Who's to say that you didn't get your very first breakout two months from now? LOL

Do you breakout often, or did you just have one and never again? Or even never have a breakout, but found out through blood testing? It would be pretty hard to feign ignorance if you're getting monthly breakouts, but if you're getting them once a year, or even less, you could just act surprised when/if it does come back one day. You could even make it a bit more convincing by lightly accusing him before 'doing research on the net and discovering that herpes can activate years after getting the virus, therefore how can we really know WHO gave it to whom?'

Things to keep in mind and you wallow in the guilt and worry that society has thrust upon you:

1) 80% have oral hsv1 and yes, it can be transmitted to the genitals.

2) 25% have genital hsv1 or 2

3) Over 50% don't ever have symptoms, many have symptoms once and not again, and a smaller percentage deal with a slight annoyance once every few months. A very small percentage have it pretty rough.

4) If you don't break out often and avoid sex during breakouts, sex with you is almost certainly lower risk for getting it (which is only an annoyance for some anyway) than by having sex with someone who has never been tested

5) Most importantly, unless your his first and last, you are NOT making a significant difference in his risk of exposure to the virus. In the next few girls he dates, whom have probably had sex with multiple partners and never been tested (25%+ of having it?), will almost guarantee he is exposed to the virus at one point or another by someone. If you include oral hsv1 as a risk, then everyone who ever receives oral sex is taking an 80% chance of being exposed. Whether this is you or the next girl, does it really make a difference?

6) Is it worth telling others and taking all the heat just because you happen to know you have it for the 80% who never got tested? Really?

Only you can decide what to do, but as I said, if you feel that it's a 'big enough' thing to set aside a special little "talk" for, don't blame him for thinking it's a 'big enough' thing to run away from.

Everyone who thinks of this thing as something you need to "have a talk about" is perpetuating the stigma. Only when people can mention having it as casually as a cold sore will the stigma go away.

I found out at the age of 25 when I was pregnant with my first son. I had a rash on my thigh and that was the diagnosis  back then was b12 shots  I am 54 now.  I havent had anything for almost 15yrs later and again on my buttock and thigh  ive never had it in the vaginal area.  two yrs ago i got tested again and was put on a valtrex treatment which ive not had an outbreak since.  I am dating a fellow who ive been talking on the internet to for 3 months but just have met two wks ago.  we have not had anything but oral sex once and in a couple of weeks i know it will be more.  our schedules are not allowing us to see each other often for right now.  Im toying with the idea to casually bring up the subject but im not ready to end this new relationship if he wants to because of this.  he was never married and in a 4 yr relationship that ended a year ago so he says.  I have been divorced for 7yrs and really never thought about telling anyone about this until two yrs ago.  i havent mentioned it to anyone.   i feel guilty about that but have not felt anything toward these men like i do the most recent.  i just dont want to have to tell him a yr into our relationship but i could act like it just happened like you said and believe all of your suggestions has crossed my mind also.  am i being deceitful?   I dont really know if this fellow has any secrets himself either soooo .....   i just hate carrying a secret around because im an easy spirit happy go lucky and this subject ruins my happiness, my zest that im noted for and my honesty and integrity that i have other then this subject.