Spreading HSV-1

[kjm3241]

I've had cold sores ever since I was a kid. I do not know whether or not my boyfriend has ever had cold sores.

I currently have a cold sore that started to break out on Sunday. That night, I was with my boyfriend and used my tongue to move some saliva onto his penis to give him a hand job. I've read on other replies to other posts that saliva is not an effective way of transmitting the herpes simplex virus. My cold sore did not come into contact with his penis, but I'm still worried that touching my tongue to his penis might have transferred the virus to him.

How likely is it that this incident will cause him to get genital herpes?

[gracefromHHP]

we don't have studies to know if suppressive therapy reduces shedding of hsv1 orally enough to reduce the odds of transmission or not.

your partner needs tested to see if you even need to be concerned or not about transmission :)

[kjm3241]

thank you so much for your response, grace!

i was really worried about spreading anything to him. that's the last thing i would want to do.

i have a doctor's appointment this thursday just for a regular check up. i can ask about being tested for hsv-2 then.

what is your opinion on antiviral medication? i have outbreaks of cold sores maybe 2 to 3 times a year, but i know that you can still be contagious without an outbreak. would the antiviral medication help with decreasing the possibility of spreading hsv-1?

[gracefromHHP]

this really isn't a real risk for him at all.

since you know you have hsv1,  have you ever been tested for hsv2?  why not have your bf get tested too to know his status so you know who has what and can make educated decisions about what precautions to take for oral sex?

grace