HERPES

Girl says she got Herpes from Oral Sex

Dear Dr. Tom:

I’m interested in a girl who says she
has herpes. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her and acquired herpes, and
passed it on to her when he performed oral sex on her. This happened
2 years ago and she has never had an outbreak. Her doctor told her
she has Type 1 herpes.

If I were to become intimate with her,
how big of a risk is there for me to contract it while using a condom
if she has no symptoms or sores?

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Dr. Tom’s Response:

Dear Poster Asking About a Girl Who Says
She Has Herpes:

Seemingly, the girl contracted herpes from
an old boyfriend, and the girl experienced cunnilingus from the old
lover. Her doctor diagnosed her as HSV-1. How did she know? Examination,
serologic result, culture?? It is quite possible that this girl never
experienced an outbreak, even though she had HSV-1. Some persons have
not shown symptoms up to 5 years.

This virus can have survived deep within
the tissues and have an inapparent infection. Assume that a sneaky
virus is around somewhere; be protective.

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