question about herpes (HSV-1)?

question about herpes (HSV-1)?so the guy i have been dating for a while just shared a lovely little fact with me two nights ago, and it has been driving me crazy. he has genital hsv-1. he says he had one small outbreak two years ago and has never had even the slightest symptom since. he isn't taking any medication for it, and when he was telling me about it, he acted like he really didn't believe he had the std at all.

i'm just really confused. i really really like him, and i'm really proud of him for being honest with me. but what are the chances of spreading it to me? and will i even get symptoms? i heard that herpes doesn't usually show any symptoms in men, but more in women.

i don't know what to do. somebody help?


well i haven't slept with him yet. :/

i went down on him, though... but that would only affect my mouth right? and doesn't everybody have hsv-1 anyway? i probably already have it in my mouth...

Gefilte Girl
That man/woman different symptoms thing is completely false. You can get it even if he doesn't have an outbreak.

Julie U
GET a test now! You need to keep the medication on hand. I was tested every 6 months and I was very capable. I got it from my husband, no if ands or buts, and he never has showed one sign. Which in itself has caused some major fights! I literally had to get my medical records and have an infectious disease doctor to talk to him. He comes up as being exposed to it but it not being active in his system but I still caught it.

Rivergirl100
You don't mention if he has HSV1 orally or genitally - and this makes a big difference. Either strain can be caught in either place, although HSV1 typically "prefers" the mouth and HSV2 "prefers" the genitals.

HSV1 orally is incredibly common. 50% to 80% of adults have it, and it is most often caught in childhood from kissing relatives. It's not an STD, and most people just don't worry about it. At all. I would avoid kissing him if he has an open cold sore, but I wouldn't give it another thought other wise.

HSV1 genitally is less common (and is, in fact, genital herpes.) The symptoms are usually milder than HSV2 genitally. He will sometimes be infectious, even without symptoms, but if you never ever have sex when he does have symptoms, your chance of catching genital herpes is less than 5% per year. The study I've seen shows closer to 2% per year.

What you say about HSV being different for men versus women is untrue. Sorry.

For lots more RELIABLE, easy-to-read information on both oral and genital herpes, I strongly recommend the website below.

Good luck.

What do you think? Answer below! Learn about different types of STDs and the effects on the body in both women and men. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Info Blog.

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