How'd I get from A to B...??!!

[Guest Guest]

I am assuming that you have genital HSV 1 based on your concern that you were infected through oral sex. The incubation period for HSV is about 3 to 10 days I believe BUT it can be much longer than that, even years. I myself had HSV-2 for at least 6 months before I found out, and probably for years as most of my ex's were tested (specifiacally for HSV because I told them to after I found out) and they all came back negative. What I'm saying is that it is very difficult to tell exactly who you got infected from. I think about 80% of the population is infected with HSV-1 by the time they reach adulthood. (My 3 year old son has HSV-1 and oddly I actually ended up getting it from him cause there was no way I wasn't going to kiss my baby) Typically type 1 is responsible for oral herpes but it causes about 30% of genital herpes cases. Chances are that the three partners you mentioned have HSV-1 orally wether they know it or not and oral sex with any one of them could have exposed you to the virus in that region. It is also possible that one of them has HSV-1 genitally and you aquired the virus that way as well. A blood test can identify antibodies and determine the type but not the location as both types can occur both orally and genitally. A culture is the only way to diagnosis wether an infection is oral or genital.

You asked some ethical questions and I can give you my opinion but as to if you agree or not that is for you to decide. I have genital type-2 where as my partner does not. Casual sex does not exist for me anymore. I would not sleep with him if I had any intentions of leaving him at any point in time. I do everything possible to keep my partner safe. If by chance he did become infected I would not feel obligated to stay with him for that reason alone. STD or not, if I was cheated on, I would leave (probably, this one really depends), if I was abused mentally or physically, I would leave, and if we had both fallen out of love and wanted to move on, I would leave... Although I don't see any of these happening. Some people don't feel comfortable dating others who don't have it while others do. I think this is something that is up to the individual or the couple. Honestly I believe that I would be missing out on something wonderful if I limited myself only to those infected and vice versa. I think love really does conqure all as long as it's real. Take care of yourself.