Can You Give Someone Genital Herpes if you Have Oral Herpes?

Can you give someone oral herpes if you have genital herpes?

There are two primary forms of the herpes simplex virus, herpes type I and herpes type II. Herpes simplex type I occurs primarily in and around the mouth and is more commonly referred to as oral herpes or cold sores. Herpes simplex type II, or genital herpes – occurs primarily below the waist line. Although it is called genital herpes, it is not restricted to just the genital area, but literally anywhere below the waist. This can include your lower back, pelvis, inner thighs and buttocks.

When a person realizes that the blister that they have on their lip that they once thought was a harmless sign of the changing seasons is actually herpes type I, one of the first questions they is whether or not they can pass it on genitally to their partner.

The very short answer to this question is, yes – you absolutely can pass on oral herpes to the genital area. Herpes simplex virus is transmitted by skin to skin contact through the mucous membranes. If you have an oral herpes outbreak and perform oral sex on your partner you can pass your herpes to them. When this happens, they will have genital herpes. Just like herpes type II, herpes type I outbreaks can be difficult to identify. Sometimes they look really bad like puss-filled blisters then there are other times when they look like simple pimples. Just as with genital HSV, if you think you are having an outbreak on your mouth, it is best to refrain from any sexual contact – including kissing.

Recently Diagnosed with Herpes: Know the Facts!

Transmission is caused by close oral, anal, or genital contact, including intercourse, masturbation, kissing, or any direct skin-to-skin contact which allows for the transfer of bodily fluids.
A person is considered contagious when prodromal symptoms, active sores, and healing lesions are present.
Herpes is potentially contagious when no symptoms are present. That is, a person who has genital herpes is potentially always shedding active virus.
Approximately 1 in 6 members of the general infected population is thought to shed active virus occasionally without symptoms.
Some people do not get typical blister-like sores but harbor active virus in their saliva, vaginal, or penile secretions, and can shed the virus without knowing they have herpes.
Lesions can occur deep inside the vagina where they cannot be seen or felt, but can readily transmit the virus.
An uninfected individual has about a 75% chance of contracting herpes during intimate contact with someone actively shedding virus.
Oral herpes can be transmitted to the genitals, and vice versa. Symptoms are similar.
Auto-inoculation: An infected individual can spread the virus to other parts of his or her body by touching an area shedding virus and then touching, scratching, or rubbing another susceptible part of the body. Towels are especially conducive to this.
It is possible for a person to contract genital herpes if the partner with oral herpes performs oral sex. Oral herpes can be transmitted to the genitals, and vice versa. Symptoms are similar.
Environmental surfaces like toilet seats may be a source of contagion, but there is no evidence that this poses a real threat to the general population. Experts differ as to how long the virus can survive on its own. The primary cause of infection remains intimate contact.

Can I still get herpes if I use a condom?

Question:

Can I still get herpes if I use a condom?

Answer:

The short answer to this question is yes. Absolutely. Condoms will not protect you from either form of herpes, type 1 (oral) or type 2 (genital).  Herpes is transmitted via skin to skin contact through the mucous membranes (usually the mouth or genitals).

So if you have oral sex with someone who has genital herpes, or if you have oral herpes and perform oral sex on someone who does not have the virus – you can transmit it to them.

The internet often gives the worst case example of what herpes outbreaks look likes. But for many many people  affected with the herpes virus, their outbreaks can be small and virtually unnoticeable. This does not mean that the virus can’t be passed along. If a woman has intercourse with a man who has a small outbreak on his inner thigh for example, and it brushes against her vaginal area – it is possible for him to pass it on to her. The same can happen in reverse.

Our Recommendations for Natural Outbreak Treatments:

• Natural Herpes Outbreak Treatment

• Take Control of your Herpes

• Treat Outbreaks Naturally

Information on Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is the sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex type 2 virus – also referred to as HSV2. It is also possible to contract genital herpes through having oral sex with someone who has cold sores, or the herpes simplex type 1 virus.

Herpes type I (cold sores) and Herpes type II (genital) are both caused by the same virus. The only difference between the two viruses is where the virus itself is located. The virus that causes genital herpes (herpes type II) is located in the base of the spine, this is what causes herpes type II related outbreaks to appear below the waist line. Genital herpes can appear anywhere below the waist, this includes the buttocks, thighs and pelvis.

Symptoms of herpes outbreaks typically begin with pain, tenderness, or itching in the genital area and may also include fever and headache. Bumps and blisters may appear on the vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, thigh, or buttocks. Blisters soon open to form painful sores that can last up to 3 weeks.

Other symptoms may include: pain or a burning sensation during urination; muscle aches; and tender, swollen glands in the groin area. After the first herpes infection, the virus can lie dormant without causing any symptoms. But the virus might reactivate later, leading to sores that usually don’t last as long as those during the first outbreak. The virus tends to reactivate following some type of stress, like a cold, an infection, hormone changes, menstrual periods, or even before a big test at school.

According to the CDC, ninety percent of the people affected with herpes type I or II are unaware of their status. The herpes virus can lie dormant for years. Often times, a person may have herpes symptoms that they mistake for something else. Because most herpes outbreaks aren’t major or that severe, it is easy to pass them off as shaving bumps, acne, allergic reactions or anything else that may cause small bumps.
Herpes is very contagious and is passed through the mucous membranes via skin to skin contact. Many people may not realize this, however condoms do not protect against herpes. This is because condoms do not completely cover the genital area. So if someone is experiencing an outbreak on their scrotum, and it rubs against a woman’s vagina or anus – the virus can be spread.

There is no cure for genital herpes, however there are suppressive treatments such as Valtrex. There are also natural treatments for herpes outbreaks.

If you have been diagnosed with genital herpes, the best thing you can do is to remain as healthy and stress free as possible. Stress and a poor diet are triggers to herpes outbreaks.

Our Recommendations for Natural Outbreak Treatments:

• Natural Herpes Outbreak Treatment

• Take Control of your Herpes

• Treat Outbreaks Naturally