hsv-1

if you have it in your genitals, does that mean it is also in your mouth? and vise versa?

[NewAtThis984]

No, you only have it in the area that came in contact and was infected.  While it is common for HSV-1 to be oral it is possible to have it transmitted to only  to your genitals.

[gracefromHHP]

unless you get an obvious cold sore, no easy ( or cheap ) way to know if you have it orally or not.  A good % of folks who contract hsv1 genitally, also have it orally.

When discussing your hsv1 genital infection with a potential new partner, discuss that you don't know if you have it orally or not and decide together what precautions to take for oral sex if your partner is hsv1 negative.

grace

[Smiley939]

sorry. dont mean to be dense, but i'm a little confused by both responses. to clarify, i can have hsv-1, orally or genitally or both at the same time? and is common to have both at the same time? and i could  have gotten it by oral sex, from a partner who has hsv1 orally?

[gracefromHHP]

yes it is common to have them both at the same time. Most folks are also kissing the person they got hsv1 from during the encounter. Most folks who have hsv1 orally, aren't getting obvious cold sores to know it.

Most folks get hsv1 genitally from a partner with hsv1 orally performing oral sex on them when the virus was actively shedding. You don't have to have an obvious cold sore present to transmit the virus.

grace