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Can HSV-2 Be Contracted Through Oral Sex?

Posted on Thu, 30 Jun 2016

Question: I had possible exposure to HSV-2 a few weeks ago. I was waiting the recommended 4 weeks or so after we had vaginal sex to be tested, then realized she performed oral sex on me about 2 weeks later. Is the risk from female to male oral sex high enough that I need to wait 4 weeks after that, or just 4 weeks after vaginal sex to be tested?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No need to adjust time schedule relative to when you received oral sex.

Detailed Answer:
Hello -

There is actually not much risk of HSV-2 from oral sex since shedding of HSV-2 from the mouth is low. There is more chance of HSV-1 transmission from mouth to genitals during oral sex. If your girlfriend does not have HSV-1, then I don't think you need to figure the oral sex into when to get tested.

For testing for HSV-2, 4-6 weeks is an appropriate initial time to be tested with the antibody test after exposure to someone who is positive for this virus. Of course if you were to develop symptoms, then you should go in right away.

I'm copying a link to an info page on HSV from the CDC if you are interested: http://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/herpes.htm

I hope this information helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar