Contracting HSV-1

I have a girlfriend that I have been with for 2 months and I just recently found out that she has HSV-1 because of a cold sore that she has. I do not want to pick this virus up because I do not have HSV-1 and I wanted to know if we could have oral sex after the cold sore is gone, how long after, and how long after the cold sore is gone before I can kiss her.

In other words, although I know that you can pass this on orally and such, I wanted to know if it could be passed on when she is not having an outbreak.

[auntiejessi]

Have you been tested?  Only about 20-40% of people who have hsv1 ever get a cold sore, and MILLIONS and MILLIONS of people have hsv1.

If you don't have it (and again, the only way to know for sure is to get a type specific IgG blood test), then yes, you could get it from her by kissing and from receiving oral sex, even if she isn't having an ob.

Keep in mind, though, that a huge number of the women you date will have it, and you might already have it too.  So don't panic, get tested, and go from there.

Aj

[Jay400]

I got tested recently and it came out negative. But, I didn't know that I could get it from kissing her even if she is not having an ob? So what should I do? Just continue to kiss her and accept the fact that I will get this disease or what?

[petal130]

Really it's a personal decision. But quite honestly, you may as well hang up your kissing hat if you're going to worry about it. 50 - 70% of the adult population has oral herpes, it's incredibly common.

[petal130]

And as auntiejessi stated, she could potentially transmit it to your genitals via oral sex as well, so personally I'd find that more an issue than kissing. Consider using condoms for oral sex and not engaging if she has a cold sore.