Just talked to my doctor.
Guess what. I guess that PP hasn’t been doing me right when I have asked for Herpes testing in the past. Either that or I have just recently contracted it… this is more doubtful though.
I have HSV 1. It is generally thought to be oral, but it can be spread genitally as well. So kissing me is just as dangerous as going down on me. Ha. I’m sorry everyone.
That’s two STI’s. Wow. I am a regular walking biohazard.
Sorry about your news, but I hope you don’t feel that there aren’t ways you can still engage in those activities safely… Medical examination scenes can be really hot and safe…
Hey. I don’t know how much you know about STIs in general, so I’m sorry if this is stuff you already know, and I really hope your doctor has said all this.
Is the evidence that you have it from a blood test or from an outbreak?
So, many many of the people around have cold sores, aka HSV I (generally, though it can be II). Most of them don’t realize that it can be transmitted to genitals via oral sex. However, what I’ve read indicates that type I genital infection recurs much less often than type II genital infection and, even better, is less likely to shed when you’re asymptomatic.
Most doctors won’t even do the herpes blood test without symptoms even if you insist, because it’s so pointless when either virus type could actually be present just as oral infection. (I always ask them, in detail, if they recommend the test. They never do.) Cold sores are annoying but don’t have stigma attached to them. (I don’t think genital herpes should either, but I mean that cold sores are considered one of those annoying things that most people have and are aware of.)
So, my point is, stop beating yourself up. Stop. You’re not a biohazard. You’re careful about this stuff.
(I do wish there was more awareness that either virus type can occur in either place and be transmitted by oral-genital contact… No one seems to realize that, maybe because high school health class makes a distinction between the two types.)
oh, also, *hug*
I had a blood test done. http://www.herpes.com has a lot of good information.
Did your doctor tell you what the infection rate or average age at which HSV1 is contracted?
90% by age 80, and during childhood. In other words, everybody has it.
It’s also not very transmissible unless you’re experiencing an outbreak, and even then, the first outbreak it the one most likely to transmit the virus to other people.
I’d be more worried to find you came down with the flu the day after I kissed you than to find you had a cold sore show up the day after I kissed you.
You said it much better than I did.
(I’ve heard slightly lower numbers, but within that range.)
I know this information. I still don’t like hearing that I have it.
It’s ok to not like it, but don’t put yourself down for it. You’re still the same person you were yesterday, and just as sexy and desireable.
^^^^^^^^^^^
Exactly what he said. Just as sexy and desireable.
HSV notes
Have you gotten the test that can give you some info on when you might have contracted it? There are several different tests, and at least one of them can give some clues in that direction. That could help you figure out if this is recent, or if it’s something you should not worry about because it’s so far in your past and you’ve never had a noticable outbreak. You will probably have to insist, because that one is more expensive. I can’t recall at the moment which it is, but I trust you can figure that out from some quick web-searching.
Either way, (hugs) (hugs)
Consider BHT supplementation, and Acyclovir prophylactically, if you are concerned about asymptomatic shedding.
It is not actually true that kissing you is as dangerous at going down on you–IF you know the primary infection site. Then you would know which one to avoid. But it sounds to me like this is an old infection, and you never had a visible outbreak, which means you can’t ever know. Back to prophylaxis and supplementation. ;^/
BTW: I’m pretty sure you can’t have gotten it from us (AFAIK), because neither of us have HSVI. Not that I thought you’d be thinking that, but I know how it is to be trying to figure this crap out. “Now, who have I slept with recently?…”)
More (hugs)
Re: HSV notes
I had cold sores pretty often from around 6-11. I have not had one since I hit junior high.
I guess that means I “knew” that I had HSV I just didn’t really think about it. 🙁
I have not gotten the more expensive test done. Given that I know I have had it orally, it is unlikely that I have had it genitally and I’m going to just let that be a mystery. I probably should consider suppressant meds.
I wasn’t blaiming anyone. I take the risks I take. I am not going to blame anyone for what happens.
Re: HSV notes
Not thinking you were in a blaming mode. But you are a responsible person, and if you thought that you didn’t have it, and then thought that you’d contracted it recently, you might want to talk to whomever you thought might be the vector, to protect them and their lovers.
(double-checking: You had COLD SORES (on the lips) in childhood, not CANKER SORES (inside the mouth), right? The two are distinct. If you only had canker sores, then none of what I write below is accurate.)
Yeah, so now you know you have it orally. Therefore, there is no real risk in going down on you. If you have an active cold sore, there might be some slight risk, I suppose (a facet of the whole asymptomatic viral shedding thing), but really, it’s such a small risk as to be negligible. But given that you haven’t even had a sore for 10+ years, I’d say your immune system has handled this one, and it’s not an issue anymore.
Therefore, suppressant meds will be in the optional category for you, as they are for me. I do it to afford another measure of security to my lovers.
Re: HSV notes
What is the difference between a cold sore and a canker sore. I always thought that they were the same beast by different names.
Re: HSV notes
Cold sores develope on the lips and are caused by a virus. Canker sores develop inside the mouth, and nobody’s really sure what causes them, although common guesses include minor localized bacterial infections.
Re: HSV notes
(nod) I’ve had my canker sores tested, and they show negative for HSV. I do note that I get WAAAAY fewer canker sores when I use Listerine, lending credence to the localized bacterial infection theory.
Re: HSV notes
Yeah, as mentioned above. I have a tendency to get canker sores far more frequently than normal (seems to run in my mothers family). Typically they start off as a cut or abrassion in the mouth and develop into a sore.
Re: HSV notes
Right, I notice them more when I have bitten the interior of my mouth but they can develop in weird random places.
I’m not a superb flosser, nor do I use antibac mouthwash, so there’s a small datapoint in favour of bacteria.
((hugs))
IMO, it’s no big deal, 80% of the population has HSV1 anyway (I don’t, but I’m used to thinking in terms of taking small risks every time I kiss someone, let alone play). It seems to me that it’s more of a social annoyance and stress risk than a physical pain…
regardless of test results, hugs kisses and cuddles are still welcome here.
Love you!
Ditto on what she said.
“regardless of test results, hugs kisses and cuddles are still welcome here.
Love you!”
well said, I’ll third that notion. 🙂
::hugs and kisses::
When I got the HPV I also studied up on HSV and actually, from everything I”ve read I’m no longer worried about that particular buggy man — unlike HPV it can’t kill you. If it weren’t a sexually transmitted thing no one would give a hoot.
From what I remember — it was a whie ago — 80% of women who come down with HSV on their genitals confuse it with a yeast infection cause its no biggy and that outbreak is genearally their last. Only a small percentage of folks have immune systems that allow it break through at all — and most of those only have it break through once or twice before their immune system surpresses it, and thats why cold sores tend to pop up right before a wedding or graduation or any other incredibly high stress event (stress being a major immune suppresent).
Also, HSV 1 on the vaginals does almost nothing, and HSV 2 on the mouth ditto. You said it to me yourself when we first met, if your sex positive and hang with sex positive folks, considering the high transmission rates of HPV and HSV, just assume you have both.
All things considered, your decision to engage in monogamy couldn’t have come at a better time. 🙂
*Hugs* and all that. I reiterate all the positive things everyone else has already said.
Why? So that instead of having several supportive partners, many of whom also have the same virus, and hanging out in the sex positive crowd where people assume they are taking this type of risk when they have sex I can go find a nice, mostly innocent boy who has absolutely no previous infections so that I can be the one to “bring him down to my level”?
Great. I’m so glad. I love feeling like I am the certain vector for a specific person.
I know you mean well.