Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs HSV-1 Nothing To Worry About?Why Partners Should KnowHow to Tell a PartnerIf You Get Genital Herpes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is HSV-1 Nothing To Worry About?
Why Partners Should Know
How to Tell a Partner
If You Get Genital Herpes
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)—the virus mainly responsible for cold sores (oral herpes)—is easily passed through kissing and oral sex.If you have or are recovering from a cold sore and have such contact with a partner, they can also get a cold sore.
Less commonly, HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes. Having genital herpes increases the risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as HIV.
Telling a partner you have HSV-1 is important for their health and your own, especially if you or they have other partners.
Tetra Images / Getty
Cold sores typically aren’t anything to worry about and can be easily treated. But that doesn’t meanHSV-1is harmless.
Cold sores usually appear as a single watery blister on the lip or mouth, or several blisters that consolidate into one. They can be painful, but typically crust over and begin to heal within four to six days.
But HSV-1 never goes away. If you develop another cold sore, the virus can spread more easily. This can occur through saliva and direct contact.
Up to 80% of people ages 14 to 49 are infected with HSV-1 in the United States. Some people with HSV-1 infection never develop a cold sore, while others develop cold sores periodically.
Oral herpes can sometimes impact sexual and intimate relationships, and you will need to be careful during cold sore outbreaks.
Why You Need to Tell Your Partner if You Have a Cold Sore
Herpes viruses are extremely contagious. And it’s not just the risk of spreading a cold sore that you should be worried about.
This is becauseherpes can spread from the mouth to the genitalsor from the genitals to the mouth. Skin-to-skin contact is all that is needed.
You Can Now Test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea With an At-Home Kit
How to Tell Your Partner You Have Oral Herpes
Herpes is a very common condition. It’s important to remember that people with herpes live normal lives and can have sexual relationships with partners who don’t have it.
It can be awkward to talk about oral herpes before sex. However, a herpes diagnosis does not significantly affect most relationships. Herpes is a health issue and HSV-1 is most often transmitted through non-sexual contact.
Some simple strategies that can make this conversation easier:
If You Got Herpes Through Oral Sex
If you are someone who acquired genital herpes during oral sex, it’s a good idea to talk to your partner about this. Think about educating them, rather than engaging in blame.
It’s unlikely that they were trying to intentionally transmit an STI. Unfortunately, a lot of people with cold sores are unaware of the risk of transmitting herpes during oral sex.
Why is HSV-1 considered an STI?Both HSV-1 and genital herpes (HSV-2) are considered STIs because each can be transmitted through sexual contact.
Why is HSV-1 considered an STI?
Both HSV-1 and genital herpes (HSV-2) are considered STIs because each can be transmitted through sexual contact.
What Should I Know About Oral Sex?
Summary
Having a cold sore can also lead to genital herpes during oral sex, and an open sore may offer an entry point for other STIs.
It’s important to have an honest conversation with a partner related to any cold sores so that you can take steps to protect and/or support each other.
Oral Herpes: A Complete Guide
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Health Statistics.Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in persons aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Cedars Sinai.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) mouth infection.National Institutes of Health.2023-2028 Strategic plan for herpes simplex virus research.Looker K, Elmes J, Gottlieb S, Schiffer J, Vickerman P, Turner K.Effect of HSV-2 infection on subsequent HIV acquisition: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Infect Dis. 2017 Aug;17(12):1303-1316. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30405-XPlanned Parenthood.Living with herpes.MIT Medical.FAQ: Herpes.Planned Parenthood.Oral & Genital Herpes.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Center for Health Statistics.Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in persons aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Cedars Sinai.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) mouth infection.National Institutes of Health.2023-2028 Strategic plan for herpes simplex virus research.Looker K, Elmes J, Gottlieb S, Schiffer J, Vickerman P, Turner K.Effect of HSV-2 infection on subsequent HIV acquisition: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Infect Dis. 2017 Aug;17(12):1303-1316. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30405-XPlanned Parenthood.Living with herpes.MIT Medical.FAQ: Herpes.Planned Parenthood.Oral & Genital Herpes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Center for Health Statistics.Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in persons aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Cedars Sinai.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) mouth infection.National Institutes of Health.2023-2028 Strategic plan for herpes simplex virus research.Looker K, Elmes J, Gottlieb S, Schiffer J, Vickerman P, Turner K.Effect of HSV-2 infection on subsequent HIV acquisition: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Infect Dis. 2017 Aug;17(12):1303-1316. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30405-XPlanned Parenthood.Living with herpes.MIT Medical.FAQ: Herpes.Planned Parenthood.Oral & Genital Herpes.
National Center for Health Statistics.Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in persons aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.
Cedars Sinai.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) mouth infection.
National Institutes of Health.2023-2028 Strategic plan for herpes simplex virus research.
Looker K, Elmes J, Gottlieb S, Schiffer J, Vickerman P, Turner K.Effect of HSV-2 infection on subsequent HIV acquisition: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Infect Dis. 2017 Aug;17(12):1303-1316. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30405-X
Planned Parenthood.Living with herpes.
MIT Medical.FAQ: Herpes.
Planned Parenthood.Oral & Genital Herpes.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
