Oral Herpes: Can it Cause Genital Herpes?

Posted April 15th, 2004 by jack

Oral Herpes

Yes, Oral Herpes can transmit to the Genitals, typically
via oral sex. Genitals Herpes can
also transmit to the mouth area via oral sex.

Both Oral and Genital Herpes are caused by
Herpes Simplex. Oral Herpes by
HSV1 and
Genital Herpes by HSV2.
The two viruses
are very similar and are both highly adaptable.

Herpes Spreads via a Mucus Membrane

In principle,
Herpes Simplex needs an open cut or a mucus membrane to transmit.
A mucus membrane is skin tissue from where a thick fluid is
produced. The membranes are found in the

Mouth
Eyes
Nose
Genitals
anus

You can also transfer the virus to other parts
of your own body, so avoid touching the affected area and
wash your hands regularly.

If you have either Oral Herpes or Genital Herpes you need
to be very careful in your physical contact from the affected
area when you have a outbreak. Antiviral treatment will not cure
Herpes Simplex but it will help reduce outbreaks as well as
reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

If you suspect that you have Genital or Oral Herpes you
should SEE A DOCTOR for diagnosis, advice and treatment.

Still Need Help?

Why not ask your question in our Public Q&A Forum? We'd be glad to hear from you and will try to help as best we can ;-)

Comments

can you tansfer oral herpes to you genitals?

On January 22nd, 2005 Anonymous says:

I have had the sypmtoms of herpes for sometime but never thought that that was what it was because I have never had sex of any kind. I just thought they were pimples but I looked online and it is sounding like I have genital herpes.
I think I had cold soars when i I want little... could I have transfered it to my genitals? If so then why would I only have them on my genitals now? Does it just totally transfer? I have never been to the doctor because I figured I didn't need to till I started having sex. I am really scared is there a possibility that this is something else?
I have looked at pictures and they sort of look similar but I never have as many and they don't look as serious. But I do that ichiness and weird discharge sometimes. and I think I have them on my butt too. This is the most unfair thing in the world! i shouldn't have to worry about this because I not having sex and being stupid. Instead I don't even get to enjoy the sex part I just get herpes and now whoever my first is i am going to have to tell. I am so very upset if someone could please respond that knows what's going on or just has some piece of mind that would be great.\
thanks so much
S

Is it? Or isn't it?

On February 10th, 2005 Anonymous says:

Before you get too freaked out... it is possible that what you have is something else. There is a skin virus called Molluscum Contagiosum which represents itself as smooth, round bumps with a center that dips in, and they are somtimes itchy. These bumps can appear in the genital area, as well as other parts of the body, such as the buttocks and thighs. It may clear up on its own, or you may have to seek out alternative treatment. Other possible treatments could include: opening the lessions with a sharp instrument, freezing them off, or burning them off.
No matter what it is, you should go to a doctor to be sure (whether you are sexually active or not) for your own health and peace of mind.
Find out if there is a planned parenthood in your area. If there is, make an appointment. Or they may have a walk-in day, when there is no appointment necessary.
Good luck, stay calm.

Oral sex quicksand

On March 6th, 2005 Anonymous says:

My girlfriend had painful cold sores in her mouth from childhood on. They were a few times every few months when they were so painful she could not eat for two or three days. At first we used comdoms but she did not like the taste. So we went unprotected and tried to be very careful. This worked for about six months but in the end I developed what looked like a large cold sore on my lip of my genitals. It took a long time to go away and was very painful as well. It only took about two weeks after it had healed for it to come right back again. Again we used condoms for about one to two years during straight sex but when unprotected after that and my girlfriend soon developed a cold sore on her lip also. So from oral sex we both ended up with genital herpes.

cold sores and oral sex

On April 26th, 2005 Anonymous says:

My boyfriend had a bump on his lip and I didn't bother to ask if it was a cold sore or not. We kissed alot and then i went down on him. After I gave him oral sex he proceded to have intercourse with me with out protection (Yeah dum i know) any way my question is, is if it was a cold sore (begining stages not even broken) and I did what I did, do I have a chance of getting genital herpes even though I didn't have a cold sore?

cold sore/herpes

On May 20th, 2005 Anonymous says:

My girlfriend gave me oral sex. I then noticed a bump on the side of her mouth later that night. She swore up and down that it was a pimple. She also said she had a canker sore on the side of her mouth and that she has never had a cold sore in her life. Anyways, now about four weeks later, i notice a little almost line bump. It was very small and probably unnoticeable except for the fact that I was stretching the skin to see anything for the past few weeks as I am very paranoid. I then picked at it and the next morning i notice a very small scab over it. I notice a small ring around the scab but is unnoticable to my girlfriend and I even got so scared i asked my mom and (who is a nurse) and she can't see it either and told me not to worry about it. Could this just be irritation from stretching the skin so often to see if I have anything or are these symptoms of herpes. The "sore" is not raised and looks colorless. I thought maybe it was a hand wart because i have never had true sex. One time, I poured white vinegar on it and it turned white. However, I have poured vinegar on it since then and it has had no effect. Could this just be irritation from stretching the skin so often to see if I have anything or are these symptoms of herpes.

Herpes Doctor