Question:
Hi all,

I got a blood test a back in Sept. 05 and showed antibodies present for


HSV 1 3.88

HSV 2 8.48

I don't know the significance of these number values

I've never had a oral cold sore in my life!

Back a zillion years ago, I went out with someone who is still a close friend who had oral area coldsores and I'm wondering if I could have always had it from back then? or contracted it from my last relationship where I got HSV 2.

Is it possible that 1 and 2 can be gential??

And, if it is truly oral, despite no symptoms, can you spread it by sharing a cigarette? I know you shouldn't kiss someone on the lips if you have 1 unless they already have it.

Answer:
Yes, you can contract HSV-2 genitally on top of HSV-1 genitally, while it is very unlikely that you would contract HSV-1 on top of HSV-2 according to recent studies (see WebMd Genital Herpes - Terri Warren Blogs). Having genital HSV-2 affords moderate protection of contracting HSV-1 genitally. Having HSV-1 genitally affords very little protection, if any, against contracting HSV-2 genitally.

Unless your initial genital outbreak was cultured as HSV-1, it is more likely that you have HSV-1 orally and HSV-2 genitally. About 60% of us have HSV-1 oral herpes, usually contracted in childhood when we are quite small. By the time you are an adult, only about 20-30% of people ever have an oral outbreak. Thus, they often do not recall ever having a fever blister or cold sore. By the time we are in our fifites, 80-90% of people have oral HSV-1.

Both strains of herpes have sites of preference: HSV-1 in the trigeminal ganglion orally and HSV-2 in the basal ganglion at the base of the spine. But, both strains can reside outside of their preferred hosting sites. Oral HSV-2 is rare (3%) and genital herpes HSV-1 is being seen more often (about 30% of new infections) almost always transferred from oral to genital sex and affecting those who were previously HSV-1 negative.

Hope this helps a little, and for more info, download or read online the Herpes Handbook at http://www.westoverheights.com

Great place to learn more about herpes and how to protect a partner and care for yourself.

Answer:
I realize I didn't address your blood test results. You do have genital herpes HSV-2, and you do have herpes HSV-1 - most likely oral. To learn how to protect a partner against transmission, read the Herpes Handbook (link in previous post). You are infectious to a partner, even if you are not having an outbreak, so you need to learn as much as possible about living with herpes. If you have more questions, come on back.