Cold sores?

Do cold sores appear inside the mouth? I'm worried about transmitting herpes via oral sex.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

John:

Basically, the answer is no, because herpes rarely affects the inside of the mouth unless it's a first-time attack, but these are uncommon and associated with 103 fever, bleeding gums, and other symptoms not conducive to wanting sex of any kind.

I assume you are asking because you have sores inside your mouth.  If so, these are probably canker sores, which are not herpes.  They are small, painful, and go away in a few days.  If you have sores and aren't sure what they are, I advise you to show them to a dermatologist.

Best.

Dr. R

[Heads-up]

Do not preform oral sex with a cold sore on your mouth.  You can transmit the virus by skin to skin contact and some doctors think that it my also transfer in saliva (sp). HSV1 and 2 can appear anywhere. They are not locked to one area of the body.