Aa
Not sure what I'm experiencing, maybe you know?
Hello there. I am new to the board, and this site was recommended to me by a friend who once used this site for medical advice! I am a 26 year old female, and I have been tested STD-free over the years. I have a problem right now, and I was wondering if I could seek out some medical advice since I do not have health insurance. I researched canker sores and oral herpes because I know they can both occur in the mouth, I at least know that. I even found a couple posts on this site with people with similar problems, but I can't seem to get a straight answer from the information I found. I recently moved in with some friends, we're rooming together for college. One of my roommates gets cold sores, and she has gotten them for years. Well, I never really cared until I moved in with her, and now I'm overly concerned about contracting the virus. How easy is it to catch? The reason I ask is because we have communal silverware and glassware. My other roommate is concerned too. I recently noticed that i developed a canker sore on my gum above my front right tooth. It hurts, and I have never gotten them there before. I read that canker sores usually only appear on unattached oral tissue, and that herpes sores develop on the attached tissue. I'm a bit distraught, as you can see. I don't share anything with her...food, drinks, utensils, lipsticks...anything. So, I hope I safeguarded myself good enough. I wanted to ask this board before I paid out good money to see a doctor in person, and also to see if this is anything to be worried about. What do you think? Are we at risk of catching it? Does my mouth sore sound like a canker or a herpes sore? Thanks for your advice in advance!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This sounds like a typical canker sore, although from your description it is impossible to know for sure. If you remain concerned, the only option is to see a health care provider about it. Most communities have low cost or free options like community clinics, public health clinics, etc.
That's all for this thread. Take care.
That's all for this thread. Take care.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. However, your question is somewhat off topic; no STD is involved here. I'll make a few brief comments, but for more detailed feeback, the MedHelp herpes forum would be preferable.
In saying you are "STD free", did the test(s) you had include HSV-1? If not, there is a 50% chance you already have HSV-1, in which case you can't catch it again; so even if your roommate has it, you might not be at risk. Your research came up with some wrong answers: recurrent oral herpes is almost entirely on the outside of the mouth; lesions in the mouth almost always are canker sores, not herpes. So it is unlikely herpes explains the sore you noticed recently. And even if you haven't had HSV-1 before, it usually takes close personal contact to transmit HSV-1, i.e. kissing etc; it is not generally transmitted by sharing eating utensils etc.
My last comment is that you seem more concerned about this than necessary. While nobody wants HSV-1, half the population has it, and for the most part it is an asymptomatic infection with only rare complications. This really isn't something to be very worried about.
I hope this gets you started on the answers you need. But since this forum is limited to STDs, there won't be any follow-up discussion.
Take care-- HHH, MD
In saying you are "STD free", did the test(s) you had include HSV-1? If not, there is a 50% chance you already have HSV-1, in which case you can't catch it again; so even if your roommate has it, you might not be at risk. Your research came up with some wrong answers: recurrent oral herpes is almost entirely on the outside of the mouth; lesions in the mouth almost always are canker sores, not herpes. So it is unlikely herpes explains the sore you noticed recently. And even if you haven't had HSV-1 before, it usually takes close personal contact to transmit HSV-1, i.e. kissing etc; it is not generally transmitted by sharing eating utensils etc.
My last comment is that you seem more concerned about this than necessary. While nobody wants HSV-1, half the population has it, and for the most part it is an asymptomatic infection with only rare complications. This really isn't something to be very worried about.
I hope this gets you started on the answers you need. But since this forum is limited to STDs, there won't be any follow-up discussion.
Take care-- HHH, MD
Oh, I realized I did not give you a description of the sore. It is white and the skin around it is red and irritated-looking. It's extremely shallow, and there seems to be a tender smaller one right next to it. Thank you!
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
