Herpes Misinformation: Transferring Cold Sores During Oral Sex
Posted: Monday, December 19, 2005
by John Trout
NewsAbout.info
Question: If I suffers from cold sores (herpes simplex 1) but not from genital herpes (herpes simplex 2), is it possible for me to pass on the virus to my partner during oral sex even if I am cold-sore free at the time?
Answer: Unfortunately, yes, even though the chances are slim, both Herpes Simplex Type 1 (cold sores) and Herpes Simplex Type 2 (genital herpes), can infect either the mouth or genitals. Likewise, both cold sores and genital herpes can be transferred from one partner to another even if the infected partner is asymptomatic at the time.
Since there are few faster ways to ruin a relationship than when one partner give the other herpes, lets clear-up some more herpes misinformation that could save you from giving or receiving the gift that keeps on giving.
- Even though a big ole cold sore on someone's lip or mouth is a good indication that they do have herpes simplex type 1, you can't tell if someone has genital herpes just by the way they look, live or act. If someone suffers from cold sores it doesn't mean they are more or less likely to also suffer from genital herpes, likewise if someone does not suffer from cold sores that doesn't mean they don't have genital herpes.
Eighty million Americans have herpes — that's at least one in six adults, including that cute date who forgot to bring condoms. - Intercourse is not the only way herpes is spread. Herpes is spread from skin to skin contact. That means you can get herpes (cold sores or genital) from kissing, performing or receiving oral sex, or touch an infected area with any part of your body
- Someone can have herpes and not even know it. Herpes symptoms usually develop within 2 to 20 days after contact with the virus, however it could take longer and in some cases (especially women) the newly infected person may remain asymptomatic but still be able to pass on the virus to others.
- Herpes can be spread between outbreaks, even when no signs or symptoms are present. It can also be spread by asymptomatic people who don't even know they are infected.
- You can get herpes in your eyes, on your fingers and on other parts of the body by touching an outbreak. Soap and water will kill the virus on the surface of your skin, however, once you are infected, soap and water will not get rid off cold sores or genital herpes outbreaks.
- Aside from abstinence, there is no sure fire way to protect yourself from contracting herpes during intimacy with an infected partner. Next to abstinence, using latex condoms is the most recommended safeguard against contracting herpes, but it is far from 100% effective.
This article is part of a free educational series of articles written by John Trout, on the subject of the herpes virus. To read the complete series go to: http://www.herpes-pics.com/herpes_article_series.htm
This Article has been viewed 38,938 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)According to my physician, it is very difficult to get herpes by skin to skin contact unless you have an open sore. You need to check your facts and stop sensationalizing herpes like the drug companies making money off their antivirals. Care and protection are important but a spartan number of viral cells on healthy skin is highly unlikely to pass the virus to another.The author's first sentence says,..."the chances are slim". Perhaps you've had a hard day.
who do you think you are helping with spreading this stupid panic making information? As a matter of fact between 95 and 98% of the human population carry the herpes virus type I inside their bodies, about 20 to 30 % carry type II. As their is the theoretical chance of passing on the virus even without any symptoms, your idea implies that all there is left, if you are one of the rare 2-5% of humans who don't already carry the virus within them and aren't a potential source of infection themselves, that you must lock yourself in and try to have no contact with the vast majority of the other humans. You should have also mentioned that there is a chance of catching the virus from a towel or from a door handle or in a swiming pool or basically any other thing that another person might have touched before you. The truth is, what matters, is to look after yourself and keep your own health constitution in order. If you're bound to catch the herpes virus, you can catch it from anywhere. Furthermore, even if you do catch it, the chances are ver slim, that you will ever notice it, as the virus is not able to cause any symtpoms within people with a healthy constution, which most people seem to have ,as most infected people never get symptoms.
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