My daughter read on another message board that if a girl has HSV1 or HSV2 orally that she cannot transmit it to her own "privates" (via oral sex on a boyfriend, then sex with the boyfriend) because she already has antibodies.

The boyfriend would be at risk for contracting genital herpes, but he could not pass them to her genitals.


Is that correct? It would seem to reason that a person would expose themselves to oral HSV by kissing in order to prevent having genital
HSV. A few cold sores or fever blisters on the mouth would be alot better than on the bottom end.

Also, is the fever blisters or cold sores that people have on their mouths always herpes?

Over 60% of adults in the US have hsv1 orally. Of those - only 20-40% of them ever get obvious cold sores to know they are infected with the virus. Once you have hsv1 orally - you are very unlikely to contract it genitally later on though it's always best to err on the side of caution and not allow your partner to perform oral sex on you whenever they have obvious cold sores present.

Hsv1 genitally is considered the "milder" form of genital herpes. Not milder as in less painful but milder as in less recurrences and it doesn't shed very often - only about 3% of days. You aren't likely to transmit your hsv1 genital infection to a partner as long as you avoid sex during ob's - they already have hsv1 orally and it's very, very unlikely to happen. Of those who contract hsv1 genitally - about 50% of them never have another recognizeable genital recurrence. Of those who do the average is 1 additional reccurence the first year and then 1 ob every other year. Only a small percentage of folks with hsv1 genitally get ob's more often. ( one could argue that since cold sores reoccur on average 2-3 times a year and are very obvious to all that it would be better to contract hsv1 genitally - imagine that!!! it's just that the word genital herpes has been so unfairly stigmatized that folks hear it and panic )

Hsv2 genitally is the more common cause of genital herpes. On average 25% of adults have it whether they know it or not. It reoccurs on average 4-6 times a year. It sheds about 15% of days and is more likely to be transmitted to a partner ( though with just a little common sense even the chances of that happening are fairly low ).

Cold sores/fever blisters are almost always caused by hsv1 orally. If the symptoms are inside the mouth they are more likely to be canker sores which aren't due to herpes and aren't contagious. Also hsv1 orally doesn't protect you from contracting hsv2 genitally - just protects from hsv1 genitally.

If your daughter has hsv1 orally no she will not transmit it to her own genitals by performing oral sex on her partner and then having vaginal sex. it's just not that easy.

Hope that answered your questions - if not feel free to ask more

betsy