If someone has herpes simplex on their mouth, can that be transmitted to someone else through oral sex which would give that other person genital herpes?

I know what I want to say. That was a mouthful.

Yes, the virus can be transmitted via oral sex- the virus does not mutate, the viral strain is still the same but it is not "safe" to give or recieve oral sex when there is an emerging or active outbreak of either type of herpes.... if you or your partner have or are getting a cold sore, you shouldn't kiss or even share the same glass, let alone more intimate contact

There is a girl I work with that always has a cold sore. Would that mean that her boyfriend has genital herpes? (If she was that intimate with him)

This site is a good source of information about the three types of herpes virus infection. The third type causes a very nasty painful disease called shingles.

Check it out.

This site mentions that other skin conditions such as impetago can make people think they might have herpes when they don't.

So. Get a diagnosis.

Clare: could be. But simplex can be spread by kissing and in general, sharing mucal secretions. Well, you did ask.

Thanks for the info MrsS and Babs. I'll add this one to the list of reasons to be faithful!

Yabbut you hafta keep your buddy on a short leash, too.

My "buddy" is a good dog. Woof! I'm not worried.

clarebare, herpes of the mouth is difrent than herpes of the genitals. one can be cured with an over the counter lip medicine, while the genitals cannot be cured, but can be controlled outbreak wise.

I was confused too when I heard of something called Herpes of the eye, I was like wow, what kind of freaky things they be doing ya know.

NOw I don't know if you have genital herpes and you have oral sex if that can be transmitted.
I can say this, I have had a woman give me oral sex who had mouth herpes, and i didn't penis herpes. I think it's a difrent strain.

Ron,

I just love your honesty. You are so real.

quote:

one can be cured with an over the counter lip medicine, while the genitals cannot be cured, but can be controlled outbreak wise.

This is not accurate. The virus that causes cold sores is NOT cureable. It is treatable, but not curable, just like the strain that is the prevailing cause in genital sores. The same prescription medications are used in both strains. The OTC treatments simply are not FDA approved for use in treating genital outbreaks, and as far as I know, there just isn't any research into whether or not they reduce the severity or duration of such outbreaks.

From Wikipedia -

Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are two strains of the Herpes virus family, Herpesviridae, which cause infections in humans. HSV-1 and 2 are also referred to as Human Herpes Virus 1 and 2 (HHV-1 and HHV-2).

After an initial, or primary, infection, HSV establishes latency, during which the virus is present in the cell bodies of nerves which innervate the area of original outbreak. During reactivation, virus is produced in the cell and transported outwardly via the nerve cell's axon to the skin.[1] The ability of Herpes virus to establish latency leads to the chronic nature of Herpes infection; after the initial infection subsides, Herpes symptoms may periodically recur in the form of outbreaks of herpetic sores near the site of original infection.

Herpes infections are marked by painful, watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes (such as the mouth or lips) or on the genitals. The blisters resemble those seen in Chickenpox — an infection caused by a third member of the alpha-Herpesviridae subfamily, Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), also known as Human Herpes Virus 3 (HHV-3). Lesions heal with a crudescent scab, the hallmark of herpetic disease. Herpes is contagious if the carrier is producing and releasing ("shedding") virus. This is particularly likely during an outbreak, although individuals may shed virus between outbreaks. Although no cure is yet available, treatments exist which reduce the likelihood of viral shedding. An HSV infection on the lips is commonly known as a "cold sore" or "fever blister" and should not to be confused with a canker sore; canker sores are not caused by the HSV virus. ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_simplex_virus

I did not know that MrsS. I thought once the lip herpes went away it was cured. I didn't know it was just treatable.
and thanks clarebare, I'm not shy at all about things. I just can't believe I gave wrong advice, i really thought mouth herpes was cureable.