Can oral HSV1 be transmitted as genital HSV1 to someone who has suffered from oral cold sores before

Sexual health
1

Question may be unclear, but to go into more detail, yesterday I noticed a bump on my lip. I was not sure whether it was a cold sore or the swelling from biting (I'm a biter/skin picker so I have sore lips a lot).

In any case, I put a compeed on to be sure, because my partner came over. One thing led to another, and eventually to oral sex, but because of the uncertainty of what this thing might be, we stopped very quickly. My partner started to worry a lot, and said that the compeed did not seem to be attached all around the area, and now we are quite worried that I may have infected him with genital HSV1 (particularly because only today my blister started to tingle and itch, so I know it's actually a cold sore). I was not too worried at first because he has had oral herpes before plenty of times and was convinced he's somewhat immune, but reading about this stuff online has confused me even more because only some sources clarify that that's actually the case.

So, without rambling any more, is there any chance of oral HSV1 being transmitted as genital HSV1 to someone who already has oral HSV1? We have been together for 4 years and have not been with anybody else during this time (I - f23, him - m24).

I would just like some answers as his worrying has made me worry even more, and the different sources make us even more confused.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and please ask anything that I may have forgotten to add/may be useful information.

2

He *should* be protected from getting it genitally, but it's still a good idea to avoid giving oral sex when either of you has a cold sore.

3

Thanks for replying. 

I thought the same and we did stop quickly, but it's been worrying him a lot, despite everything we've read. Definitely a no-no from now on.

Thanks, again!

4

Hey Diana,

Just to give my two cents. I have had oral cold sores since I was a kid. Same with my boyfriend. He gave me oral sex without realizing he had a cold sore (must have been tiny or he was skin shedding), but I did contract HSV1 genitally, even though I have it orally. So it is possible. But I've heard it's rare.

5

Hi,

thanks for your input, i really appreciate it.

Would you mind telling me how long after that you've seen the signs? I also do not know what to expect from it, but would you say your first outbreak was very bad or maybe given that you had some prior immunisation it wasn't too bad?

I am worried how he might react, although everywhere I have read it says outbreaks are far less common after the first one? How are you now/dealing with it?

Also, I can't help but having the feeling that we have been intimate in the past, right before getting a sore the next day, or as one was just about to disappear, yet no reactions have been present in these 4 years.

Thanks so much for putting the effort to reply, I'm really grateful!

6

Hey Diana,

Of course, I don't mind! I don't recall when he gave me the oral sex that contracted me exactly, but it was probably about a week or two weeks after that I started noticing symptoms. Thankfully I've gotten over the first outbreak (happened about a month ago), so I don't know if it will come back, but since it's Type 1 I've heard from most that it rarely comes back, and if it does its mild, and does get milder each outbreak. And it only comes back in the same area as before. My body already has the antibodies, as I've had cold sores since childhood, so I'm optimistic it won't come back *knock on wood*.

To be honest it took me a bit of time to digest it all and come to the realization that it's with me for the rest of my life, HOWEVER, I'm totally fine now. It's an extremely common virus, and really when you think about it, it's so easy to get. But the medication (I took Valacyclovir) immediately helped me not only with the symptoms but it helped me get back to myself. The first outbreak is something I do not wish on my worst enemy. Thankfully it was contained to one side of my labia (and wasn't near my urethra so didn't hurt when I urinated), but that one side swelled to double the size of my other side. I couldn't walk or sit or sleep for the first day or two. The pain was unbearable. I had to sleep on the couch with an ice pack propped between my legs. When the lesions were present that's when I got tested and it came back positive. I've heard that if you get tested with no symptoms present it can still come back negative, even though you may have it. So if you think you have it and there are symptoms, go get tested right away. Get on the meds as soon as possible, it will help you get over the pain!

Since it is such a common thing, I don't really think it's a huge deal. At the end of the day it's a skin condition. Thankfully my boyfriend is understanding and supportive! I am lucky to have someone like him.

Let me know if there's anything else I can help with. Totally here for you and understand the fear and what you're going through! I hope my answers have helped

7

Aw, thanks again for being so prompt!

Your answers have definitely helped. 

I don't think i have anything to worry about, unless it is dormant and had no symptoms so far. Like you, I've had oral cold sores since as long as I can remember, and my partner has had them a lot too (if I remember correctly, you need to have been infected for at least 4-6 months to have created the antibodies, he's had them for years!). The issue is that I gave him oral and my blister was just showing but I wasn't sure it was a sore as I constantly bite my lips and get something similar because of that. The stupid compeed moved and we stopped. We didnt get too much into it and tried to avoid direct contact with the area around the blister, but there's still a chance. Only today it's started itching and I realised it is in fact a cold sore.

Because we've been together for so long, I find it really hard to believe  one of us wouldn't have contracted it already, but his worrying started to drive me crazy and a feeling of guilt followed it.

From my research, genital herpes can manifast much worse in females than in males.

If I were to get it, I would feel awful, but I am much more aware of how common it is and how easily can be passed on, but because my partner is really paranoid about it and possibly can't exactly grasp it yet is making me feel even worse. I can't shake the guilt, if he'll really get it.

I am really, really hoping it won't come to that and that we're worrying for nothing (I also suffer from anxiety, which is really not helping right now!)

I am glad to hear you're feeling better and I hope you won't have any more encounters with this thing, and I will take your advice to see a doctor as soon as we notice anything odd.

Thanks so, so much, again!

8

How unlucky! Yeah, I have read the same thing (that it can happen, but not common). In those cases where a person has the same type in both locations, it's usually from acquiring both at the same time or before enough antibodies have been established.

9

Are you 100% sure that you have had cold sores since you were a child? That means years and years where you have established anitbodies? 

10

Are you 100% that you have had cold sores since you were a child?

That just means that your body has had years to build of immunity because of antibodies? 

11

I have gotten cold sores ever since I can remember... and well recently I got a breakout on my chin which was so weird since I only had it in my lips... well they start looking like a pimple so I tried popping it.. it was hard to pop I thought maybe because it wasn't well developed yet... well I went to bed right after and masturbated.. surely next day at night that's when I noticed that it actually wasn't a pimple it was a cold sore because I had scab on my chin... so I was freaking out rembering the night before..and indeed after a few days I noticed genital herpes symptoms .. so yes its possible... and I too suffer from anxiety...