# Cold Sores and Genital Herpes. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163 "2002-06-27T03:07:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/1 "2002-06-27T03:07:11Z")
If a person with a cold-sore on his/her lip was to engage in oral sex with another, would the cold-sore be transmitted to the genitals and manifest as herpes? I know cold-sores are of the Herpes Simplex virus, but I wondered whether they are the same as the genital variety. Any knowledge here folks? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/2 "2002-06-27T03:10:59Z")
They are two slightly different viruses, but it is possible to transfer them as you suggest. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/3 "2002-06-27T03:14:11Z")
There’re two major strains, one associated primarily with the lip, the other near the hip. I’ve been lead to believe that they’re near interchangeable in their effect on humans (_and_ that almost all of us have one or the other). But IANAD, so I anxiously await the arrival of the informed. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/4 "2002-06-27T03:18:54Z")
[http://webmd.lycos.com/content/article/1680.54039](http://webmd.lycos.com/content/article/1680.54039) > [@](#): > > Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV)-Type 1, which is transmitted by such forms of contact as kissing an infected person or sharing eating utensils, towels, or razors. > > Genital herpes is usually caused by herpes simplex virus Type 2. > > A person with a cold sore who performs oral sex on another person can give that person genital lesions with HSV-1. So you can give a person a HSV Type 1 cold sore on his/her genitals if you perform oral sex while you have a HSV Type 1 cold sore in your mouth, but you _usually_ can’t give a person Type 2 herpes from a Type 1 cold sore. You _usually_ get Type 2 herpes from having sex with someone who already has Type 2 herpes lesions on his/her genitals. “Usually.” 😉 More info. Cold sores. > **[WebMD - Better information. Better health.](https://www.webmd.com)** > > The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information. Providing credible health information, supportive community, and educational services by blending award-winning expertise in content, community services, expert... > [@](#): > > The herpes simplex virus can be spread from a cold sore on one person to another area on someone else’s body. Common areas that can be infected with the herpes simplex virus include: > > The lips (herpes labialis). > > The genitals (genital herpes). Genital herpes most often develops after having sex with someone who has genital herpes. See the topic Genital Herpes for more information. Which is here. > **[WebMD - Better information. Better health.](https://www.webmd.com)** > > The leading source for trustworthy and timely health and medical news and information. Providing credible health information, supportive community, and educational services by blending award-winning expertise in content, community services, expert... So generally speaking, it looks like you should take a pass on the oral sex if you have cold sores in your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/5 "2002-06-29T03:55:18Z")
> [@](#): > > So generally speaking, it looks like you should take a pass on the oral sex if you have cold sores in your mouth. Now you tell me.:rolleyes: Yes, boys and girls, it works that way.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/6 "2002-06-29T13:27:14Z")
I had a couple as patients years ago, who were ready to divorce because the woman turned up with genital herpes, and accused her husband of being unfaithful, getting them, and passing them on to her. He in turn accused her of having an affair and picking them up there. In the midst of an acute outbreak, I took a viral culture, and lo: they turned up to be HSV-1. Now that’s no guarantee that he did give them to her orally, but it certainly bolstered the possibility. ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/7 "2002-06-29T16:00:56Z")
Pardon my ignorance, but is that all that genital herpes is? An occasional cold-sore in your groin area? Don’t get me wrong - I’d rather not have it, but it doesn’t sound like that horrible a thing. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/8 "2002-06-29T16:59:58Z")
**lucwarm** , you’re right, unless you’re immunocompromised, or about to have a baby. If a newborn contracts herpes during it’s passage down the birth canal, it can cause a fatal neurologic herpetic infection. If you’re immunocompromised you can get severe sores all over the most tender areas, including the eyes, the inside of the nose, even the ear canals, which become infected with other opportunistic diseases. Debilitating, and possibly fatal. But if you’re otherwise healthy, it’s mainly painful, embarrassing, and transmissible. Not much damage when compared to HIV and Hepatitis C, but there you are. ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/9 "2002-06-29T20:41:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\* > But if you’re otherwise healthy, it’s mainly painful, embarrassing, and transmissible. Not much damage when compared to HIV and Hepatitis C, but there you are. \*\* Painful? I’ve never known a cold-sore to be painful. It’s just like having a pimple for a couple days. Is genital herpes different in this respect? ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/10 "2002-06-29T21:05:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lucwarm \* > \*\* > > Painful? I’ve never known a cold-sore to be painful. It’s just like having a pimple for a couple days. Is genital herpes different in this respect? \*\* You’ve got to be kidding. Cold sores I’ve had in the past have been very painful. Luckily, I don’t get them so much anymore, and when I do I apply Curasore, which works very well, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/11 "2002-06-29T23:03:24Z")
can you get it from a towel someone with herpes used? ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/12 "2002-06-30T00:14:26Z")
Don’t forget that transmission goes both ways. I had a patient come in with bad herpes on his face. After questioning him I found he had been having oral sex with his girlfriend who had a history of “recurring yeast infections”. He of course had HSV 2. (Recurring yeast infections to me ALWAYS make me suspicious for herpes unless they have been cultured. In my experience I find many women assume any gynecologic infection is a yeast infection and if it goes away in a week with treatment they assume they are right-even though herpes goes away in a week usually anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/13 "2002-06-30T14:15:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lucwarm \* > \*\*Painful? I’ve never known a cold-sore to be painful. It’s just like having a pimple for a couple days. Is genital herpes different in this respect? \*\* As **barb** said, yes HSV is, to the vast majority of people, very painful. A typical description “it feels like someone is tattooing my inner lip with a red hot poker whenever I eat or drink”. If your lesions don’t hurt, you’re either very lucky, or they’re not HSV lesions. ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/14 "2002-06-30T15:40:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\* > As **barb** said, yes HSV is, to the vast majority of people, very painful. A typical description “it feels like someone is tattooing my inner lip with a red hot poker whenever I eat or drink”. If your lesions don’t hurt, you’re either very lucky, or they’re not HSV lesions. \*\* For what it’s worth, my 1 1/2 year old daughter had a similar cold-sore on her thumb, which the doctor said had probably been communicated from her mouth to her thumb from sucking on her thumb. She wasn’t in any pain at all (believe me, she would have let us know!) So perhaps there’s some super-mild herpes-like virus running around out there. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-sores-and-genital-herpes/116163/15 "2002-06-30T16:06:35Z")
It isn’t common for HSV to live on a thumb. Not impossible, but not common. They prefer mucus tissue like lips, gums, tongues, eyes, nasal mucosa, and genital/rectal areas. Glad it doesn’t bother her.