passing genital herpes

[staffwriter.livejournal.com]

I have a quick question.

Does anyone on this community have genital herpes (either type1 or type2) and have condomless sex with their partner anyway? If so, has your partner been tested and has he/she gotten it?

I've been reading and it seems that "everyone" who has the herpes virus, either type on either location (oral or genital) can spread it to anyone at any time. But i've been reading stuff online about people who have type1 genital herpes and still have condomless sex and for some reason, their partner hasn't gotten it. (even after years of sex) ...Seems odd? So some people are more contagious than others i guess?

I saw a gyno last week because i was told i had gential herpes, type1. I went there to ask her questions and have her explain to me how i got it. She kinda dismissed it and told me herpes was a "can of worms." She told me she doesn't know if i'll pass it to someone or not. However, she didn't preach safer sex or anything like that. She made it seem like it wasn't too much of a big deal. Which made me feel better...but everything i read online makes it seem like it's a huge deal.

If you have it, or know someone who has it, how much of a deal is it to you?

(It's weird. People who get herpes type1 on their mouths aren't told they can never kiss anyone again. But people who have type1 on their genitals are told (via the web) to never have condomless sex again.)

Comments

[sarahwilder.livejournal.com]

There is always a chance of spreading herpes, period. Valtrex did a study which showed that, with supressive drug therapy AND condoms, they had reduced spreading to partners.

If you're having an outbreak, you should avoid genital and/or mouth contact. You *can* spread herpes 2 to genitals and herpes 1 to the mouth. Even when you are *not* having an outbreak, however, your skin cells are still shedding the virus, hence the ability to spread.

I know two people who have gotten herpes from a partner who was not having an outbreak at the time. Being protected, and protecting the people you care about, is the most important thing- all the time.

[staffwriter.livejournal.com]

i understand all of that. What i don't understand is where my shedding is. Is it in my saliva bc its' type 1? Or is it on my vagain bc i had an outbreak there? You know what i mean jelly bean?