Cold Sores and Herpes?

HSV1 is the virus that usually causes oral herpes – but it can infect the genitals. 50% to 80% of adults have oral herpes. It’s usually caught in childhood from kissing relatives, and it is NOT an STD. Symptoms are sores on/around your mouth – commonly called “cold sores.” There are other things that cause sores around the mouth that are not herpes. These are canker sores.

HSV2 is the virus that usually causes genital herpes, but it can infect the mouth. About 20% of the adult population has genital herpes, but most people don’t know that they have it, because they don’t have symptoms.

Having either type on your mouth is called “oral herpes” and having either type on your genitals is called “genital herpes.”

Herpes is most contagious when you have sores. So if you give your partner oral sex when you have a cold sore (and they don’t already have HSV1) then they almost certainly WILL get genital herpes.

Herpes can be spread even when no symptoms are present, but the chances are much much less likely (about 6% per year.)

So yes. Almost everyone has herpes. And yes, if you give someone oral sex when you have a cold sore, you will give them an STD, even though you yourself don’t have an STD.

For a lot more information about oral and genital herpes, I like the website below. It’s a LOT more reliable than Y!A, its easy to read, and they won’t try to sell you anything – except maybe a book.

Good question.