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Hsv 1 clarification
Recently , I was told by my doctor that I have herpes over the phone after my results came in.. She didn't tell me what type she just said be careful having sex and if I have ever had any fever blisters or cold sores. I haven't had any symptoms at all in life. I asked if it could be passed from kissing and he said no, so I figured it was HSV2. I the. visited my primary doctor and tested for hsv 2 and the test was NEGATIVE. After receiving this result I contacted the other doctor for clarification and I spoke with her nurse. I was told I have antibodies for herpes sebacious. What is this? I'm confused and need clarification? Do I have hsv 1 or not, should I go back to my primary doctor and retest for hsv 1?
It's hard to answer your first question, since a blood test will not tell you the site of infection. It's possible to have either type in either site.
We can be contagious at any time. It's possible to shed virus (have virus on the surface of the skin) even without symptoms - a phenomenon called asymptomatic shedding. It's how the virus is mostly spread.
The caveat is that according to one of our top H experts, around 65% of Americans have HSV-1, either orally or genitally. You wouldn't be alone.
What is "ok sexually" is anything your partner is okay with, provided you've disclosed what you know of your status. I, and virtually all of my colleagues, do not subscribe to the idea that it's okay to engage in sexual activity with someone who we have not told our status to, whether we have HSV-2 or HSV-1. Oral HSV-1 can be transmitted to a non-H partner's genitals via oral sex - in fact 1/3 of all new genital infections is caused by HSV-1, so it's not as innocuous as some would like you to think.
Genital HSV-1 does not shed as often as oral HSV-1, however, we don't know whether we're manifesting that small percentage of shedding at any moment.
There are steps to take:
1) Disclose before sexual contact, and suggest that you both get tested, for everything, to become aware of what each of you brings to the table. Lots of other bugs out there to catch besides HSV.
2) Get on suppressive (daily) antiviral therapy, which has been shown by research to cut the rate of shedding, as well as the risk of transmission, at least 50%.
3) Use a condom/barrier with every sexual contact.
4) Abstain from sexual contact when feeling prodrome or experiencing symptoms.
Taken together, these steps represent the best action we can take to help reduce the transmission risk to our non-H partner. However, this is all, as you say, jumping the gun - you may not even have the virus at all! Keep us updated.
We can be contagious at any time. It's possible to shed virus (have virus on the surface of the skin) even without symptoms - a phenomenon called asymptomatic shedding. It's how the virus is mostly spread.
The caveat is that according to one of our top H experts, around 65% of Americans have HSV-1, either orally or genitally. You wouldn't be alone.
What is "ok sexually" is anything your partner is okay with, provided you've disclosed what you know of your status. I, and virtually all of my colleagues, do not subscribe to the idea that it's okay to engage in sexual activity with someone who we have not told our status to, whether we have HSV-2 or HSV-1. Oral HSV-1 can be transmitted to a non-H partner's genitals via oral sex - in fact 1/3 of all new genital infections is caused by HSV-1, so it's not as innocuous as some would like you to think.
Genital HSV-1 does not shed as often as oral HSV-1, however, we don't know whether we're manifesting that small percentage of shedding at any moment.
There are steps to take:
1) Disclose before sexual contact, and suggest that you both get tested, for everything, to become aware of what each of you brings to the table. Lots of other bugs out there to catch besides HSV.
2) Get on suppressive (daily) antiviral therapy, which has been shown by research to cut the rate of shedding, as well as the risk of transmission, at least 50%.
3) Use a condom/barrier with every sexual contact.
4) Abstain from sexual contact when feeling prodrome or experiencing symptoms.
Taken together, these steps represent the best action we can take to help reduce the transmission risk to our non-H partner. However, this is all, as you say, jumping the gun - you may not even have the virus at all! Keep us updated.
Thanks for that input. So if positive for hsv 1, what are the boundaries sexually? Knowing that this is a lifelong complex, what is ok sexually and what is not? Of course when symptoms are present avoid everything sexually but of not, What is ok?
Knowing I am jumping the gun, I just want to know to be knowledgeable. I really believe nothing is wrong because of what the previous doc said doesn't even exist (sebaceous herpes) and i didnt even see any result on paper. I'll just focus on the results my primary doc gives
Knowing I am jumping the gun, I just want to know to be knowledgeable. I really believe nothing is wrong because of what the previous doc said doesn't even exist (sebaceous herpes) and i didnt even see any result on paper. I'll just focus on the results my primary doc gives
If the statistic is 9-18% of days, that stat will hold, regardless of the number of days you use to calculate it. That's not a low statistic. It means that in any given year, HSV-1 will shed 33-66 days.
The more important thing to consider is that we can be shedding even without symptoms (asymptomatic shedding) and can be contagious at any time without knowing it. It's how the virus is mostly spread. According to Terri Warren, up to 90% of HSV+ people don't know they have HSV, due to a lack of symptoms.
However, according to Anna Wald at the U of Washington, about 65% of the population has HSV-1, so you would hardly be alone if your test came back positive for HSV-1.
The more important thing to consider is that we can be shedding even without symptoms (asymptomatic shedding) and can be contagious at any time without knowing it. It's how the virus is mostly spread. According to Terri Warren, up to 90% of HSV+ people don't know they have HSV, due to a lack of symptoms.
However, according to Anna Wald at the U of Washington, about 65% of the population has HSV-1, so you would hardly be alone if your test came back positive for HSV-1.
Shedding for hsv1 oral was present 9-18% of the days evaluated so its not that often. And its not just simple kissing but rubbing and pressing kissing to force the virus into the nerve.
Thank you.. Thing is I've never had a cold sore in my life.. So i guess I'll go to my primary doctor tomorrow and have the hsv 1 test type specific done. If my test is positive, What are the chances of passing it while kissing with no sores present? I know it's hard to say just want some type of input. Also same thing with oral?
Hi also.There is no such thing as herpes sebacious its either herpes or a cyst and can look similar.
Following what youve posted your negative for hsv2 and positive for oral hsv1 and was mostly likely contracted at child hood. If this is what you have you would need to be careful giving oral sex or kissing with an obvious sore present.
Following what youve posted your negative for hsv2 and positive for oral hsv1 and was mostly likely contracted at child hood. If this is what you have you would need to be careful giving oral sex or kissing with an obvious sore present.
I was tested in October. I didn't have any physical symptoms on my doctors visit, just a routine checkup.. Both tests were blood tests. Haven't had any symptoms at all. Maybe some skin irritation but I'm an athlete, so I used lotrimin and the itch went away.. Really can't say the time if I've been exposed to hsv, because I've had a 2 partners. No one has came back to say anything to me as far as symptoms they've had.they were both tested and they came back negative. When I spoke with the nurse (1st test) who to me I had "sebaceous herpes", they told me all gential tests were negative I'm assuming hsv2.. She still didn't say I had hsv 1 she just stated sebaceous herpes and said it's all the same and said be caref having sex and to contact her if I needed anything.. That doesn't sound right to me.. My primary doctor (2nd test) only tested for hsv 2 and it came back negative. She said hsv 1 is very common due to childhood and there was no need for testing, but I'm going back to her for that test as well.. Just need clarification.. Did she tell me be careful just because it was a blood test and it can't determine the location? Or should I wait on the 2nd hsv 1 test for clarification?
Hmm...I'm also confused. A sebaceous cyst is not due to herpes, but to ingrown hairs and other skin conditions. Ask your nurse for further clarification on what she means.
What made you go to get tested the first time? Did you have physical symptoms and did they do a swab? What was the time gap between the time of exposure, the first test, then the second test? Was the second test a blood test?
What made you go to get tested the first time? Did you have physical symptoms and did they do a swab? What was the time gap between the time of exposure, the first test, then the second test? Was the second test a blood test?
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
