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STDs (Expert Forum)
Oral HSV-2 herpes becomes genital?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Oral HSV-2 herpes becomes genital?
by bigbabyQQ, Jan 23, 2005 12:00AM
Hi HHH,
I've read information about "site of preference" of HSV-1 and HSV-2.
If I had an oral infection with symptoms inside my mouth by HSV-2, could I also have been genitally infected without symptoms? If the original site of infection by HSV-2 was inside my mouth, does it mean that the HSV-2 virus will travel down the body and recurs as genital herpes infection in the future? Or will the HSV-2 virus be shedding in the genital area, causing potential transmission to another person through genital-genital intercourse?
I guess most people would not think this can be the case because most oral herpes are caused by HSV-1, which tends to stays in the upper part of the body.
I'm quite worried that my oral HSV-2 herpes will turn into genital herpes.
I've read information about "site of preference" of HSV-1 and HSV-2.
If I had an oral infection with symptoms inside my mouth by HSV-2, could I also have been genitally infected without symptoms? If the original site of infection by HSV-2 was inside my mouth, does it mean that the HSV-2 virus will travel down the body and recurs as genital herpes infection in the future? Or will the HSV-2 virus be shedding in the genital area, causing potential transmission to another person through genital-genital intercourse?
I guess most people would not think this can be the case because most oral herpes are caused by HSV-1, which tends to stays in the upper part of the body.
I'm quite worried that my oral HSV-2 herpes will turn into genital herpes.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Jan 23, 2005 12:00AM
, Jan 23, 2005 12:00AM
How do you know your oral herpes is HSV-2? As you say, that would be very rare; and if you had oral HSV-2, you probably won't have recurrences.
And if it's oral HSV-1, no, you won't transmit it to your genitals. However, it is conceivable that you acquired oral and genital HSV-2 simultaneously, especially if you had both genital and oral sex with the person from whom you caught it--and the genital infection could be asymptomatic.
But this is a far-out possibility. Have a specific test for oral HSV-2 if that hasn't been done.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
And if it's oral HSV-1, no, you won't transmit it to your genitals. However, it is conceivable that you acquired oral and genital HSV-2 simultaneously, especially if you had both genital and oral sex with the person from whom you caught it--and the genital infection could be asymptomatic.
But this is a far-out possibility. Have a specific test for oral HSV-2 if that hasn't been done.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
