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How Is Herpes 1 Transmitted?
Question: I contracted herpes 1 on my chin 35 years ago through performing oral sex on my infected partner. I rarely have outbreaks anymore and when I do they are always limited to my chin. I now have a partner who is not infected. Can I transmit the virus to her through my saliva even though I was not infected in my mouth? If she performs oral sex on me, can she be infected through my vaginal secretions?
Brief Answer:
Oral sex has no risk whereas kissing may have risk
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Your HSV 1 infection was around your mouth. I hope that you were not having genital infection. If you were not having genital infection, performing oral sex with you, your partner would unlikely to get infected.
But when she kisses you or during fore play, we can not rule out the possibility of transmitting the infection to her. Even in the absence of a fresh infection or following a recurrence even after healing of the lesion, one can have viral shedding and you may be infectious. But this is a rare possibility as you are not having frequent recurrences in the recent days.
Dr S.Murugan
Oral sex has no risk whereas kissing may have risk
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query.
Your HSV 1 infection was around your mouth. I hope that you were not having genital infection. If you were not having genital infection, performing oral sex with you, your partner would unlikely to get infected.
But when she kisses you or during fore play, we can not rule out the possibility of transmitting the infection to her. Even in the absence of a fresh infection or following a recurrence even after healing of the lesion, one can have viral shedding and you may be infectious. But this is a rare possibility as you are not having frequent recurrences in the recent days.
Dr S.Murugan
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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