Hi, Thanks for writing in to us. Any direct contact with an herpes infection can get you infected Kissing, touching or caressing actively infected areas Sexual contact (vaginal, oral, or anal sex) Cold sores or mouth herpes can be spread by sharing the same drinking glass, lipstick, cigarette, etc. Herpes can be spread by any of the following real-life situations: Kissing someone if you have a cold sore can transfer the virus to any part of the body that you kiss them (including inside of the mouth and throat, or the genitals) The virus can be transmitted to your partner if you have active genital herpes and have vaginal or anal intercourse If you have a cold sore and put your mouth on your partner s genitals (oral sex), your partner can be infected with genital herpes. Consequently, oral sex should definitely be avoided if one partner has a facial herpes attack. People who experience an episode of herpes, either facial or genital, should consider themselves infectious from the first sign of an outbreak to the healing of the last ulcer. Occasionally, one partner in a long-term relationship may develop symptoms of herpes for the first time. Often this is due to one or both of the partners being asymptomatic carriers of HSV and not knowing it. Hope this helps