Genital HVS-1 and kissing + mouth ulcers

Hello doctor, I’ve few questions about HSV-1 so please bare with me.

In summer of 2006, my ex-girlfriend and me we went away for week vacation. Sometime around the 6th day I got these weird blisters on my penis and she also got some in her vagina. Later I was diagnosed with HSV-1, but I never had these blisters on my genital area before neither did she.

Questions:
Could I’ve been infected with HSV-1 2yrs prior to my first episode or “perhaps” my ex-girlfriend could have been exposed to HSV-1through sex with someone else before we went on vacation? She always claimed to be totally faithful to me.  

I was diagnosed with genital HSV-1 about a year ago, so can I pass HSV-1 to other people through kissing?

If I have genital HSV-1, and I kiss someone that has HSV-1 in her mouth can I get the virus in my mouth even if I already have HSV-1 but in my genital?

I've told my doctor that a few times already I’ve gotten on my tongue, gum, and inside my lower lip  one or two blisters that last about 2 weeks and are very painful but my doctor has indicated these are mouth ulcers produced by stress or some other factors. I’ve never had anything that looks like a cold sore. My question to you is how can know if I have HSV-1 in my mouth since I’ve never had cold sores with the exception of the mouth ulcers.  

Once you’ve been exposed to HSV-1, will you get symptoms within days or HSV-1 can remain inanimate inside you for years ?

[gracefromHHP]

There's no easy way to know if you also contracted hsv1 orally at the same time or not unless you get an obvious cold sore. the symptoms you describe orally do sound more like canker sores than oral herpes as your doctor already told you.

At this point you'll never figure out who had what first since it's 2 years after the fact. The best thing to do is just accept that you have it at least genitally and approach it from that standpoint.

for new partners, they will need to get tested for herpes ( and other std's  ) before the two of you are intimate together.  Even though you have hsv1 genitally you can still get hsv2 so knowing a partner's status is in your best interest. If they already have hsv1 orally, they are unlikely to contract hsv1 genitally. it can happen but the risk is very low.  the whole situation that occured with you and your ex gf really is the exception to the rule for the most part.  if a partner has hsv2, then you'll need to take appropriate precautions.

grace

[D1930]

Thank very much for your fast response and for this helpful website.

[D1930]

Hello everyone, I need some opinions please.

About 2 yrs ago I was diagnosed with genital HSV-1. I’ve had about 3 episodes total. I’ve never had cold sore but I’ve had painful blisters on my tongue and the inside of my lower lip a few times but never outside my lips. My doctor told me these probably are Canker Sore not produced by Herpes. For the last year I haven’t had any re-occurrences and I’ve been dating someone (we just kiss around not sex).  Problem is now, a few days ago my girlfriend text me and told me that she woke up with a cold sore on one side of her mouth and then next day she got high fever.  “Once again I’ve never had cold sores”. Moreover my girlfriend mentioned to me that her sister gets cold sores sometimes. Now, my girlfriend’s sister has a baby which kissed my girlfriend on her mouth the other day so I think maybe my girlfriend got the cold sore from baby since the baby's mother gets cold sores sometimes. I don't know what to thinks any more.

Some Questions:

If I have never had cold sores even though I have genital HSV-1 could I have passed it on to my girlfriend when we kissed?

Do all cold sores have to be Herpes or can it anything else?

Do the blisters I’ve had in my tongue and the inside my lower lips sound like herpes or just Canker Sores (these are very painful)?

[gracefromHHP]

Unless you get an obvious cold sore to know it, there's no easy or cheap way to know if you also contracted hsv1 orally or not.

You can have canker sores and also be hsv1+ too. They are 2 totally different conditions.


grace

[D1930]

Continuation from the above post:

My girlfriend has a rash/cold sore like on the corners of the mouth. No legions on the lower or upper lip. Her symptoms include redness on rash, fever for a day, and no cracks on the skin. I've been think the worse does it sounds like Herpes or it could be ANGULAR CHEILITIS. Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

she needs to see her provider for proper evaluation.

grace