is it herpes?

[silverandgold]

my boyfriend and i have been together for a few years. recently he had flu&fever, ulcers and a red blisterlike patch under his nose. all these similar to symptoms of herpes but he said the patch wasnt watery or produced any pus. the doctor said it was a cold sore and he might have oral herpes so we are waiting for the test results but i'm worried he might get it. the question is how can he get oral herpes when i don have it and he has not been kissing anyone else?

[waringblender]

Sorry, but not having cold sores or any symptoms does not mean you don't have herpes. It's very common for folks not to have ANY symptoms of herpes on their mouths, and most people with genital herpes also have no recognizable symptoms. Unless you have been blood tested with type specific tests, you really don't know that you are negative.

It's really not that puzzling. The majority of the population is positive for type 1 herpes (cold sores on the mouth, primarily).  So it's more likely you are positive than negative. If you test positive for herpes, it also doesn't mean that this guy passed it to you. You could have brought it into the current relationship from prior partners, or from your childhood.

[silverandgold]

because i never had cold sores around my mouth. it's his first time having the cold sore and he hasnt had close physical contact with anyone else other than me for the past 3 years or so. so it really puzzles me..

[waringblender]

He could have contracted it in childhood, or from some other partner. If you haven't been tested for herpes, how do you know you don't have it?