Mixed messages regarding cold sore virus....

[Innocent56]

I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with the cold sore virus (type 1) following oral sex with my (now ex-)boyfriend who announced the morning after the night before, that he had a cold sore on his lip. I have since been trying to do as much research as possible but I have had conflicting information given to me.  Can anyone give me a definitive position on this please?  The Doctor I saw at the SH clinic said that if a future partner had already got the same virus strain in his system then condoms would not be required as it is not possible to get the same virus twice.  I have seen something similar stated on this website.  However, the SH nurse I saw contradicted this and said that the virus is transferable to different parts of the body and so condoms are required at all times.  I noted something similar on the Herpes Virus Association website.  I just want to know where I stand when I have to face a new partner about this whole issue which, I have got to say is the most daunting thing ever.....

[WilsoInAus]

Has your outbreak healed yet? Exactly how long since infection?

[Innocent56]

Hi, my infection occurred on 19th May and yes, my sores are healed but still getting some stinging and tingling around my body - not sure if it's related...

 

[WilsoInAus]

You are probably experiencing the system shock of your immune system ramping up. It should calm down further with each passing day.

The evidence shows that males with an eatablished oral HSV-1 infection have a zero to negligible chance of becoming infected genitally with the same type. There has never been a documented case!

[Innocent56]

That's incredibly reassuring!  Thanks so much for confirming this.  Not that I am out of the woods but as I understand it around 70% of the adult population has this virus present in their system and if so, there is a good chance that a future male partner will have immunity if he proves positive for the oral HSV-1 virus.  Thank you so much!

[WilsoInAus]

Not only that, but the other 30% probably won’t care, especially when there’s a wonderful, terrific and amazing woman to get to know.

[Innocent56]

Thank you, thank you.

[Mountain Man]

But Wilson aren't there something like 65 different strains?  How would you ever know?  It isn't as simple as 1 and 2.  

[WilsoInAus]

Yes it is that simple. The body's immune system is AMAZING, the protection is for all strains of HSV-1.

[ThatGurl]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news,  but although the majority of the population has it, many are unaware they have it. And in my experience,  the 30% that don't have it "don't care", in fact do ... a lot. Although, since you have it on your face, it's more socially acceptable. 

Many people who have had it for a long time will also test negative.  That also puts a bit of a kink in the idea that people can just get tested and know.

It is VERY unlikely for someone who has hsv on their face to get it on their genitals and vice versa because of the statement mentioned above.

[Innocent56]

Umm, no, I don't have it on my face (see my original message) but thanks for your contribution/comments.

[Wtfisthisplease]

12 hours ago, Innocent56 said:

Umm, no, I don't have it on my face (see my original message) but thanks for your contribution/comments.

Easy breazy, if you tell people you've had a 'coldsore' in the past you're all good. That's more than the majority with hsv1 will do. Hsv1 is hsv1 and you have it in a less infectious area than orally. If I had confirmed hsv1 genitally I would wear condoms and just not have sex if I had any tingling, burning, itching, etc down below. If your partner get coldsores I'd say me too and not worry about a thing. Either way you're part of the majority of the population now.

[Innocent56]

Sorry to come back WilsolnAus but you say there are no known reported cases of people with oral herpes contracting genital herpes and yet I know of 2 definite cases where genital herpes sufferers have contracted oral herpes.  Are you saying it doesn't happen the other way around?

[WilsoInAus]

Hey @Innocent56 thanks for the chance to clarify things, a lot of misinformation floating around and mainly perpetrated by various known trolls, but we'll clean that up pretty soon.

We of course live in a universe where everything is possible, but such contemplation doesn't help people living in their real world. We can only live life on the pragmatic, we simply do not live long enough to be worried about the abstract and low probability possibilities.

The observed facts are these:

• There are 30 dermatome regions on the body. Any of them in theory can be infected by HSV-1 or HSV-2, They band the body mostly horizontally, becoming vertical in the leg regions.
• The mouth and genital regions or dermatomes are the most common infected by HSV-1, HSV-2.
• Once a person has an established HSV infection, they are virtually immune from becoming infected in a further dermatome with the same type.
• There is no documented medical conclusion for an individual case of a subsequent infection of the same type. Not for an adult and not for a child. The child one is interesting and genital herpes in a child is very often investigated in many communities for obvious reasons. Never has one of these investigations concluded that spreading of an existing infection occurred.
• All this means is that subsequent infections, self inflicted or from a third party with the same type must be an exceptionally rare event indeed.
• Having an established HSV-1 appears to have no preventative effect against a subsequent HSV-2 infection.
• An established HSV-2 infection provides quite strong immunity to a subsequent HSV-1 infection. It happens, but quite rarely.

[for ev4r]

 

hello a greeting to all, say that cold sores is something totally insignificant that does not do anything at all, it is very strange to reappear, so all those who are concerned about cold sores, tell them that herpes type 1 does nothing nothing and the normal thing is that never comes out in life, as well know wilson.tambien say that it is something that we have almost everyone normal since childhood, and repeat herpes type 1, is not dangerous or does anything nothing.

[Innocent56]

Thank you WilsolnAus - each time I read your comprehensive and factual replies I let go of one more level of anxiety.  I am reassured by your explanation and your response and truly appreciate you taking the time to write on my post. I have not yet engaged in another physical relationship since I was diagnosed but the information that I am gathering makes me feel stronger for when I do have to face that situation for the first time.  Thank you.

[WilsoInAus]

That is awesome and yayy you! I’m sure a special someone will come to you at the right time.

[Trace67]

There is nothing published that says someone with oral hsv-1 cant get it on the genitals and if there is its BS. People are all different and many have poorly functioning immune systems. I too know people that have later got it on the genitals and fingers. I understand the desire not to scare people and all but it doesn't do them any favors to give them alternative facts. It should be considered that  this girl will have to quite possibly face a very angry man one day. Furthermore, he may be one of the unlucky ones that spends the rest of his days on this site with back to back outbreaks. Of course, she doesn't need to be scared at all. She can simply disclose her status and they can decide together if condoms are appropriate. If one was really hell bent on proving that a man with oral hsv-1 cant get it on the genitals then multiple clinical trials with thousands of people enrolled would need to be done, I wonder how many guys with oral hsv-1 would want to sign up to sleep with genital hsv-1 girls?  lol.no doubt that many would, Wilsom may be correct that it doesn't happen very often, but it may also be true that it happens more often than we know. Not all men have oral cold sores either, so ethically she has to disclose anyway,but I guess that just depends on ones level of ethics. She would be the one to have to live with the consequences of her actions. For some people that's no big deal for others it is. Sounds like she already made her mind up so the point is rather moot.

[Wtfisthisplease]

20 hours ago, Trace67 said:

There is nothing published that says someone with oral hsv-1 cant get it on the genitals and if there is its BS. People are all different and many have poorly functioning immune systems. I too know people that have later got it on the genitals and fingers. I understand the desire not to scare people and all but it doesn't do them any favors to give them alternative facts. It should be considered that  this girl will have to quite possibly face a very angry man one day. Furthermore, he may be one of the unlucky ones that spends the rest of his days on this site with back to back outbreaks. Of course, she doesn't need to be scared at all. She can simply disclose her status and they can decide together if condoms are appropriate. If one was really hell bent on proving that a man with oral hsv-1 cant get it on the genitals then multiple clinical trials with thousands of people enrolled would need to be done, I wonder how many guys with oral hsv-1 would want to sign up to sleep with genital hsv-1 girls?  lol.no doubt that many would, Wilsom may be correct that it doesn't happen very often, but it may also be true that it happens more often than we know. Not all men have oral cold sores either, so ethically she has to disclose anyway,but I guess that just depends on ones level of ethics. She would be the one to have to live with the consequences of her actions. For some people that's no big deal for others it is. Sounds like she already made her mind up so the point is rather moot.

I agree maybe ethically she may disclose that she has had a coldsore -  but that's it, location is moot. In reality she would be disclosing to people who already have hsv1 and don't know it because the tests suck and doctors don't screen for it. Hsv1 is becoming just as/ or is just as prevalent as HPV. 

Edited July 23, 2018 by Wtfisthisplease

[35hope]

having antibodies isn't going to protect you from from spreading it to other area of your body i don't know why people say this...

[WilsoInAus]

10 minutes ago, 35hope said:

having antibodies isn't going to protect you from from spreading it to other area of your body i don't know why people say this...

Actually, it does.

Remember that you have over 80 individual elements to your immune system that addresses HSV - some of them are real bad ass viral killers that lurk in your skin! 

Look up viral memory specific epidermal Tcells - Holy Toledo!

[Innocent56]

Thank you again to all contributors. Just to be 100% clear, whilst I was seeking advice on the need for future use of condoms I would never not disclose.  I would feel totally uncomfortable about taking that approach.  All I was seeking to understand was whether, in the event that I meet someone who is prepared to commit to me, we would be tied to condoms for the rest of time.  I hope this clarified things.

[35hope]

On 7/24/2018 at 11:22 PM, WilsoInAus said:

Actually, it does.

Remember that you have over 80 individual elements to your immune system that addresses HSV - some of them are real bad ass viral killers that lurk in your skin! 

Look up viral memory specific epidermal Tcells - Holy Toledo!

protect from it yes but it can still spread...

 

also how is this roger guy not banned?

[WilsoInAus]

38 minutes ago, 35hope said:

protect from it yes but it can still spread...

 

also how is this roger guy not banned?

Except that for 99.999% of people, they haven’t spread it.

[IcantThinkofaName]

On 7/18/2018 at 8:55 PM, WilsoInAus said:

An established HSV-2 infection provides quite strong immunity to a subsequent HSV-1 infection. It happens, but quite rarely.

@WilsoInAus

since I have hsv2,  this means I am not likely to get HSV1 orally or genitally in the future? Is this correct?