Cold sore herpes?

[eliza3198]

I am 15 years old, and my boyfriend is 17. When I was younger I frequently experienced the HSV-1 cold sores on my lips. I have not had one in about a year. My boyfriend said he had discovered what we expected to be a cold sore just last night. He said he had not been sharing any drinks or utensils, and was not in mouth to mouth contact with anyone else. However, he gets blackheads on edges of his lips, and we are hoping this is a small white head. Anyway, the day after he discovered it, he performed brief oral sex on me. The infected part of his mouth did not come in contact with any of the mucous membrane, or any part of my inner vagina region, just his tongue. He said he does not frequently get cold sores, and I am worried I could contract any HSV-1 genital herpes from this. I read on another GP and STD specialist page that if you get cold sores young you are better immune to genital herpes of the same type because your antibodies can fight it off. However, there is still worry. He has been my only sexual partner. Is it possible to contract HSV-1 genital herpes from this? Is it likely? It has only been an hour so I was wondering also is there anything I can do to prevent it while it's still early?

[Fleetwood20]

When you have an oral HSV1 infection you can shed the virus on your mouth and lip area without a cold sore. You can even infect someone with passionate kissing for example, all without a cold sore in sight.

If your boyfriend has a single little lesion easily mistaken for a pimple, then this will not probably be a recent infection from you. Chances are also pretty high he's had a HSV-1 infection since childhood.

You both should be careful as mentioned, however it is most unlikely that the presence of a cold sore on your boyfriend results in you experiencing one. Your cold sores will develop from the inside out hence this would be most likely a cooincidence.

[eliza3198]

Thank you for the info. But I did not have a cold sore at the time, I've had many in the past. Now I believe I have a cold sore from him on my mouth from kissing, with it just arising today will that still lower the chances?

[Fleetwood20]

As you already have a HSV1 oral infection, this dramatically reduces the chances of a genital infection, but they are not zero. Both you and your boyfriend need to be careful and avoid contact when you have cold sores or generally feel issues with your lips that often lead to cold sores, such as dryness, sunburn etc.

Oral sex is not an efficient mechanism for transmitting HSV, but when virus is present in the forms of sores the risk is present.

I'm sure you've had a good shower off, but there is really nothing that can be done. The virus either gets to the nerve endings during the sexual act or soon after if it has penetrated the skin. You skin has natural defenses as does your blood stream with HSV1 antibodies just ready to kill it off.

I feel you are fine. Just be careful of outbreaks and in this circumstance of both partners having HSV1, you are likely to go a lifetime of sex without further transmission.