I have oral herpes, but I didn't contract it through sexual contact, Iv'e had it since I was really young. Like the cold sore type oral herpes. My question is this, if I go down on my girlfriend while having a cold sore, can I give her genital herpes? or are these two different diseases?
Yes. I asked my doc about this a few weeks ago because my husband had a nasty cold sore outbreak. He, like you, has had oral herpes since childhood. The doctor said yes, it is possible to transmit oral herpes to genital herpes (Type I to Type II.) It's more difficult, though than transmitting genital to oral. Basically, the doctor said it was possible, but difficult. But to be on the safe side, (since I was pregnant at the time) to make sure he didn't go down on me while he had an outbreak or until it had cleared up completely.
__________________
--Kellie
Married 09/28/2002
DS born 07/05/2003
DD born 3/24/2005
If your cold sores is due to Type 1 herpes (which is typical for cold sores), then she can catch it unless (generally) she also has Type 1 herpes. It is pretty rare to re-catch a particular strain of herpes after being previously exposed. If she does have Type 1, then you could give it to her simply by kissing, which is probably how you got yours.
Even if you both have sold sores, I would avoid oral sex during an outbreak. For one reason, it is possible her cold sores are due to Type 2, so she doesn't have immunity to getting type 1. Even if you both have the same type, though, it is still possible to re-catch them in a different location.
Originally posted by siren1024: it is possible to transmit oral herpes to genital herpes (Type I to Type II.) It's more difficult, though than transmitting genital to oral. Basically, the doctor said it was possible, but difficult. But to be on the safe side, (since I was pregnant at the time) to make sure he didn't go down on me while he had an outbreak or until it had cleared up completely.
Actually, the type does not change from 1 to 2. If you have type 1 orally, and give it to someone genitally, it is still type 1, just located genitally. From what my doctor told me, it is very EASY to contract genital herpes from someone who has a history of coldsores, and a cold sore does not even have to be present at the time. People shed the virus occasionally without visible symptoms. Unfortunately, I know alot about the subject, becuase this is how I caught it. I also ended up with type 1 sores on my nipples from my boyfriends mouth. Be careful!
Can oral herpes cause genital herpes? 
