Aa
MedHelp.org will cease operations on May 31, 2024. It has been our pleasure to join you on your health journey for the past 30 years. For more info, click here.
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Aquiring genital hsv1 when already hsv 1 positive.

Many posts that I have read dealing with auto-inoculation state that it is almost impossible if it is not a primary outbreak or there are immune problems....However, it has been stated on other posts, that if you have cold sores, you can get Genital HSV-1 from oral sex...even though the oral HSV 1 provides significant protection against this, it can happen.

So...my question is...if you already get cold sores....why can't you give yourself genital HSV1, but someone else can give it to you?  Is it because an oral sex partner may have a different strain than you?  Any other reason?
4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
There are different strains of HSV1 but our immune systems appear equally as effective.

You are talking about an issue that has no observable probabilities or risk factors given the rarity.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
bump
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Fleetwood,

I remember one of your previous responses to this questions was that it was nearly impossible, because if a ganglion is infected in one area, your body produces immunity internally which makes infection of other ganglion nearly impossible.  Some of the doctors on this forum have given the immunity explanation as well....So I guess I am wondering would one have less immunity to another person's HSV-1 as compared to your own HSV-1?  Thoughts?  Thanks for your response!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think you do need to be careful about stories about self innoculation. There aren't really any documented cases of it happening. It seems theoretically possible that it happens, but I am yet to see a proven story, that is, one that doesn't have a rational explanation of previous symptoms thought to be cold sores actually weren't and no blood test or swab to prove that it was.

Even if there is a small chance of it happening, then it makes sense that you are more likely to get it from another person. This is because the shedding area actually comes into contact with the skin. Self innoculation just about always requires a movement through fingers, saliva etc. and skin to skin is harder to achieve.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community

Popular Resources
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.