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STI
Recently, my girlfriend and I separated for a period of about three weeks. During this time, I had protected sex twice with someone else. There was no oral/genital contact of any kind during these encounters. This "someone else" has HSV-2 (genital herpes), but had no active lesions or sores during our contact (and again, we used a condom). My girlfiend, whom I've reconciled with, is now complaining of a coldsore, which she claims she has never had before. I've never had one either. Is there any way in which I could be responsible for her getting this coldsore? What are the chances?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
First, from your description I cannot tell whether your partner has oral herpes at all. There are lots of misunderstandings about what a cold sore (or fever blister) actually is. For example, lots of people confuse herpes with aphthous stomatitis (canker sores), but they are entirely different. Or she might just have a pimple. Oral herpes typically is one to a few blister-like or pimple-like sores on or near the lips, i.e. not inside the mouth.
Assuming your partner truly has a cold sore, she probably has had HSV-1 for a long time. The first infection with oral herpes, if it causes symptoms at all, generally is more severe than a single cold sore. Multiple sores in the mouth and severe sore throat usually occur. So if you partner has a cold sore, probably it is just a coincidence--i.e. she probably has been infected all along. Half the population has HSV-1, typically since childhood, and a new cold sore can pop up at any time.
Finally, even if she has new oral herpes she caught from you, almost certainly it was by kissing. It is unlikely you caught genital herpes during protected sex, and unlikely you would have caught it and transmitted it within 2 weeks without symptoms.
Bottom line: Whatever you partner has, it probably has nothing at all to do with the sexual exposures you describe.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Assuming your partner truly has a cold sore, she probably has had HSV-1 for a long time. The first infection with oral herpes, if it causes symptoms at all, generally is more severe than a single cold sore. Multiple sores in the mouth and severe sore throat usually occur. So if you partner has a cold sore, probably it is just a coincidence--i.e. she probably has been infected all along. Half the population has HSV-1, typically since childhood, and a new cold sore can pop up at any time.
Finally, even if she has new oral herpes she caught from you, almost certainly it was by kissing. It is unlikely you caught genital herpes during protected sex, and unlikely you would have caught it and transmitted it within 2 weeks without symptoms.
Bottom line: Whatever you partner has, it probably has nothing at all to do with the sexual exposures you describe.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Thank you so much for your quick response. It's certainly a relief. My girlfriend does have a sore of some kind on her lip, but neither I or my partner during our separation have ever had a cold sore. Thanks!
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.
