Hsv 1?

New to swinging. Both wife and I occasionally develop cold sores (HSV-1). I've had them since childhood (40+ years), and wife thinks she developed them from catching the virus from me. We've been married for 25+ years, lots of oral sex and there's never been any sort of genital outbreak between us.

Now that we are considering sex with others, what, if anything, do we do about this condition. Of course if there are developing/active/healing cold sores, we're not going to meet with anyone. But the virus can be transmitted even without any symptoms. Reading on the web, 80%+ of people carry this virus, with vary degrees of symptoms, down to none. Chances are many people in the lifestyle have been exposed to it. So do we put a big green H on our profile, lol?

[qreskupl7476]

While each case is different, here's our experience with this matter.

Mrs. Q gets cold sores from time to time, has since childhood.

Mr. Q has never had one.

Mr. and Mrs. Q have been together for over 15 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Q have been kissing and performing oral sex on each other as often as possible throughout said 15 years.

Mrs. Q has always refused to kiss Mr. Q or anyone else on the lips, or perform oral sex when she has a cold sore.

Mr. Q has never developed any symptoms of Herpes, on his lips or elsewhere, and other than cold sores neither has Mrs. Q.

I'm no doctor, but my personal hypothesis on the matter is that HSV 1 is one of those viruses that pretty much everyone has or at least is exposed to at some point in their lives. Some peoples' immune systems fight it off, others don't. If it's something that bothers you, then I would suggest that you tell other prospective partners of your ailment prior to engaging in any type of activity with them. If said partners happened to be us, we would probably laugh at you . . . . then kiss you to show our lack of concern. Provided that no one had a cold sore.

[Edison Carter]

Susan here-- I have a 'vanilla' gal pal and she has HSV 1 oral cold sores. She gets cold sores frequently. Her husband has the same virus, says he has a cold sore perhaps once every two years. They handle stress completely differently, which I suspect is why he does much better.

HSV1 can become genital. Many incorrectly believe that type 1 is only related to oral herpes, many people are not aware that type 1 can and is being contracted both orally and genitally. So many people are under the presumption that there is that “Good versus Bad” virus and with these beliefs social stigmas are thriving. While the “Good Virus” is believed to be “just a cold sore” – society has that euphemism to hide behind and don’t have to acknowledge that cold sores are indeed Herpes.

They have never had oral sex when either of them has had a cold sore. A good choice on their part.

HSV 1 & HSV 2 - Defining the differences in types of HSV, HerpesOnline.org

[dodgechevy]

Here's the thing I'm wondering about. According to all these statistics about the sti's of herpes and genital warts.

Anyone can get it from someone who has it by almost any way, including having sex with protection.

Depending on who you talk to, any where from 60 to 90 percent of the population WILL get either one throughout their lives. (I'm just guessing, but swingers just have to be in a higher category because of greater sexual frequency with strangers).

Essentially these are harmless diseases, more of an asthetics problem. Except for the rarer form of warts that causes cancer (scary). That and apparently a huge percentage never develop any symptoms at all.

So knowing all these things, why the big stigma? It's something we both have talked about and realize that we might get in contact with at some point. Especially if you want to have a sex life in this world.