hsv1 is typically called the “cold sore” virus and hsv2 is typically called genital herpes. These are two DIFFERENT viruses but they are like sisters, they share 50% of their DNA. So they are very similar and in the same family but different at the same time… Either virus can be passed to either location.. For instance, I got my genital hsv1 from my partner who used to get coldsores as a teenager, giving me oral sex.. So I have the cold sore virus on my vagina…
The reason hsv1 is called cold sores or assosiated with oral herpes is because it perfers and thrives on the mouth, when people get it on the mouth they most likely get cold sores a few times a year, but when someone gets it on the genitals it does not thrive nearly as well and that person most likely will only have 1 or 0 outbreaks ever, however some people get reoccurent outbreaks and the average is 1 outbreak every 2 years for these people… hsv2 perfers and thrives on the genitals, so people who get this on their genitals can expect on average 4 or 5 outbreaks a year. If they get hsv2 on their mouth they will likely only have 1 or 0 outbreaks ever… This is part of the reason so many people carry it and dont know they have it… Also, both viruses are contagious while you have a sore AND while you dont have one. When either virus is in its perfered location, you are contagious on average 10-20% of the days in a year while you have a sore or not. When either virus is on the location it does NOT perfer, you are contagious on average 5% of days in a year whether you have symptoms or not. My partner had not had a cold sore in 6 years but he still gave it to me. Hope this info clears some stuff up!