Can HSV1/Cold Sores be transmitted to genitals? - Herpes Message Board

st86 · 01-12-2005, 11:20 PM

Hello,
Hypothetically if someone with cold sores/hsv1 performs oral sex on someone, can they give that person hsv1 genital herpes? I read that a remarkably high number of people do, in fact, have the virus in their system and with cold sores being so seemingly common, this (perhaps poor) question came to my mind.
Thanks a lot.

marco2618 · 01-13-2005, 12:12 PM

Yes. It can be transmitted to the genitals, in fact it is quite common.

beaker24 · 01-13-2005, 12:55 PM

Yes. It happened to me. It's a lot more common than was previously thought - possibly because the figures have genuinely risen (as apparently we are having more oral sex!) or possibly because it is getting noticed more now.

A lot of people who have genital HSV1 are not aware it has happened to them because they have had a mild genital outbreak and the virus has not returned - most people only have one genital HSV1 outbreak (in contrast with genital HSV2 or oral HSV1, where it is more likely to return every so often).

gerrysgirl · 01-13-2005, 06:25 PM

Thats how I got it. He's never had and OB (or from what he knows) and I had my first OB about a month ago. IT was a bad one too. it hurt so much!! I got it from asymptomatic shedding
So to answer your question... Yes its possible!

st86 · 01-13-2005, 08:44 PM

What's asymptomatic shedding?

Also, since so many people don't know they have HSV1, doesnt this sort of imply any oral sex without a condom or dental dam is a high risk for genital herpes?

Sorry for the questions; just seems like sex ed teachers dont do a good job sometimes.