When is sex okay?

[Siggy108]

Hello!

So back story, I have GHSV1 that was given graciously to me from my husband who has OHSV1 during shedding when he had no symptoms.  We've been married 5 years together for 8 and well apparently it was just my lucky day.  I had my first outbreak with genital sores and was put on an anti-viral for 7 days.  after 4 days on the antivirals the sores turned to scabs and by the time I was done with my anti-virals all visual symptoms are gone. 

That being said I had some pretty bad nerve pain for the past two days after my antivirals are done and I know that can mean the virus is still active.  So my question is when can we have sex?  I am not worried about passing the virus to him but I am worried about triggering another outbreak by stressing my body or having friction down there.

Additionally, while I'm trying to see the silver lining to all this I still have my moments which seem daily where I break down and lose sight of the positive.  I just wish I knew if I will have more break outs, how often they will be, how I will know and what will trigger them.  I started taking vitamin C, Zinc, and B12 to see if I can at least help my body out.  I already avoid added sugars and mostly stick to lean meats but my problem is stress.  I previously have been diagnosed with anxiety and use to have panic attacks and I'm worried by high stress levels are going to make this worse for me.  

Sorry that last part didn't have as much to do with the first, just trying to get it all out!

Thank you!

[Dee22]

Hi,

i am not sure  what happens with hsv1 but i know rough sex is a definite trigger for hsv2. I would be careful its a recent outbreak jusy so u dont have to go through the pain or symptoms again. 

I have the same fear about my stress levels and anxiety setting it off. I think u have to wait and see how your body responds 

u are lucky u can go through it with your hubby at least. 

[Scooby2112]

Hsv1 genitally is known to have few outbreaks.  

Dr HHH has stated that 40% of gHSV1 never have a second outbreak, 50% may have 2-3 outbreaks over the next 1-3 years and then none after that.  10% may experience infrequent but ongoing outbreaks averaging 0.7 outbreaks a year.  

The first year is likely to have the most activity, which may include non-outbreak symtoms like prodrome (itching, burning).  

I would recommend you engage in sex when you feel comfortable doing so.  Don't rush into it, but don't avoid it.  Even if you do have another outbreak it will be much less severe.  I would recommend you also use a personal lubricant to help lessen the friction as well.  

[Siggy108]

@Scooby2112 have you read an statistics on contracting ghsv1 when the person already has ohsv1? I haven’t been able to find anything except the statement that it’s rare. Thank you!

[Scooby2112]

@Siggy108 there is no data specifically.  You are talking about two rare events tied to each other.  

One passing gHSV1 to a negative partner is considered low probability due to the low recurrence and low shedding rates (obviously if you have more frequent outbreaks then maybe more possibility).  

Secondly passing gHSV1 to someone who already has oral HSV1 would be extremely rare for the reasons above, plus the fact that an established oral infection would provide antibodies preventing future infection.  The possibilities are potentially there especially with active blisters due to the higher viral load during an actual outbreak and/or if the skin is compromised which could give the virus a more direct path into the nerves bypassing the immune response.  

 

So possible but very very very low risk with an Ohsv1 but it would be so rare trying to conduct studies on the needle in the haystack would be difficult.  

[Siggy108]

@Scooby2112  Thank you for your response.  

The worry we have is we did have sex when I had what we though was just a vaginal tear and I now believe it was a sore.  

[Scooby2112]

If he has oral HSV1 it should not be a concern.  A long standing oral HSV1 provides great protection.  

[Siggy108]

@Scooby2112 Thanks again!

[Josephine W]

Hey there! Our situations are pretty identical. Was with my guy for a few months before I contracted genital HSV1 and my doctor said it was likely that he has oral HSV1, but he was confused because he’s had a couple other long term relationships and none of them contracted it. And also that he’s never had any cold sores, so he must be asymptomatic. It was just the luck of the draw I guess, like you said. 

As far as sex goes, my doctor told me to wait until all blisters cleared up and then wait another week. That being said the first time I ever noticed a blister was right in the middle of sex, when we weren’t using a condom. Then there was anothe time I found one shortly after. So there you have two instances of unprotected sex during an active outbreak and he still hasn’t contracted it genitally. So I’m starting to really believe what people are saying about the rarity of my partner contracting it genitally.