"The Talk"

Hi medical community!  I'm a lesbian, and I practice unprotected sex each time I have sex - which is not a lot, but I understand that each time is 100% exposure.  I've made it a point to have the uncomfortable STD/HIV talk with all four of my sex partners to date, but was still recently diagnosed with (and saw symptoms of) HSV 1.  I hear half of the population has it too, and that we can get it from anywhere from eating utensils to french kissing.  So, do I not give my family loving pecks on the cheeks?  Do I stop would-be suitors from kissing me to say that I've had a cold sore before?  Does this fit into "The Talk" or more along the lines of "did you or didn't you get chicken pox as a child?"

Thanks!

[daisy315]

I am assuming you have been diagnosed with HSV1 ?
You are correct in saying that a large percentage of the population have it around 80%,as far as kissing is concerned I have answered this question before in the only way I know how to which some may disagree on and that is by saying that kissing is and has been since time began a demonstration of affection and love and I doubt that the fear of a cold sore once in a while will ever put an end to it,we kiss and are kissed for many reasons and in many situations throughout our lives most of which are not of an  intimate nature and there is very little we can do about it,a vast majority of people with HSV1 have been infected from a very young age and long before they ever experienced an intimate kiss.
But anyone with Oral Herpes should stay aware that they risk infecting another person during active outbreaks and take care not to allow the active sores to come in contact with anyone else by not kissing or indulging in oral sex during an outbreak or if they feel an outbreak may be about to start,as they risk passing it both orally and genitally to a partner when it is at it's most infectious.
In the interest of hygeine it's not wise to share things like drinking cups and personal items at any time apart from the fact that the risk of infection from that is very low it's just plain common sense and not a nice thing to do when you have an active cold sore going on.

Daisy  

[daisy315]

Just noticed you did say you were diagnosed with HSV1 .... sorry

[gracefromHHP]

Do you have hsv1 orally or genitally?

grace