Genital herpes from cold sore?

My husband and I have been together for two years. We were both screened for STD’s at the beginning of our relationship and both came back negative (we’d both been abstinent for 3 months prior to that). The other night my husband performed oral sex on me. There was no obvious cold sore when he performed oral sex.  The next day he started to develop a cold sore. He said he’s had them before in the past, but not for years. I’ve never had a cold sore (or any other STD, for that matter). I’m concerned about developing genital herpes. What is the likelihood of this?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

When you say that you were screened for STDs at the beginning of the relationship, are you certain that you were both tested for HSV 2?  Most STD screens don't include herpes testing, but you could check.  When you do check, try to see if you were also tested for HSV 1.  Perhaps you already have HSV 1 and don't know it or weren't tested and should be.

If he has HSV 1 and you don't, there is a chance that he could transmit virus to your genital area by giving you oral sex, yes.  The fact that he got a cold sore the next day increases that chance but it isn't a given, just a possibility.  

Please find your medical test results, and see if you can find out exactly what you were tested for.  

Terri