Question:
Im just wondering but is it possible to be tested for herpes via semen? I have heared this can be done but not certain?
I understand there is an IGG blood test that can do this but it will not tell where it is should you have the virus. I also understand that herpes is a skin condition but it can travel via semen (hsv1 or 2)

Answer:
the virus once established doesn't reside in your blood or semen so I seriously doubt that you could be tested this way.

testing is done either by taking a swab of the infected area and having it cultured in a lab or by blood testing which works by detecting antibodies in your blood.

Answer:
It may not reside in semen but it can travel through semen, hence why im wondering if it is possible? I have never had anykind of genital outbreak but i would still like to know if it can be done? IGG test says i have HSV1 but i have had that since teenager (oral coldsores)

Answer:
My guess is the only thing that travels though semen would be possibly some antibodies, which are the same things the blood tests are designed to identify. I believe transmission is caused by skin-to-skin contact, not by semen.

Why are you concerned about semen tests? Have you been tested by semen? Or are you trying to avoid a blood test?

Answer:
I have had had a blood test to find if I had come into contact with
HSV2 (The genital one). My results just show HSV1 which i know i have had. Im just trying to find out if i have come into contact with HSV1 genitally, hence a semen test. There must be some way to determine ? Just to note i have never had any genital blisters at all but would still like to find out for certain

Answer:
As far as i know, there are NO tests which can tell which HSV strain you have where other than a swab test, which will pull the active virus from the area in question. Until you have a lesion or pass it on genitally to someone you know you haven't kissed, there really is no way to tell. I've never heard of an HSV test on semen.

Answer:
How possible would it be for a male to pass HSV1 from his mouth to his genitals (touching etc) whilst having an outbreak on his mouth.

Also how possible would it be for someone to pass on HSV1 without an outbreak and never had an outbreak? (genital to genital) .Have there been any studies on this ?

the issue with HSV seems a bit confusing, any help please

Thanks catiesmom

Answer:
It is possible to infect yourself with the virus, although it doesn't usually happen after the first few months of exposure. Your body builds up enough immunities that passing it from one area to another isn't likely. However, with HSV, there really is just no telling.

The general response to your second question is you've got a 4% chance of spreading it -- that's about how often asymptomatic shedding is supposed to occur (there's one study on this referenced often, but i don't know the reference offhand). If you're not experiencing any of the signs of an OB and haven't had one recently, you've got about a 4% chance of shedding the virus and passing it on that way. The general assumption is the longer you've had it, and the longer you go without outbreaks, the less of that 4% chance you have.

Then again, i can't quote any studies. Maybe someone else will give you links to those answers. You might also try the links on the left -- they'll probably lead you to more "scientific" data than the opinion i've picked up from being here.

I get the feeling you've got a specific question in mind that you're hinting around. Maybe you could ask what you're really wondering about?

Answer:
So how difficult would this be?

You have a girlfriend/boyfriend.
You have coldsores
You perform oral sex on them and they become infected genitally.
Your partner doesn't know you've infected them genitally or
Your partner has no symptoms of a ghsv1 infection.
You engage in intercourse when they are contagious and
You are now infected genitally with hsv1.