[Question #12339] Oral HSV Outbreak

8 months ago

Hello,

Earlier this week I had some questions about a brief unprotected oral sex encounter I had (Question #12314) and I have a bit of a follow up.

It has now been 6 days since this encounter and I am having an outbreak of a cold sore. I have previously tested positive for HSV-1 and had cold sores. However, I’m worried that I may have contracted HSV-2 from my recent encounter.

Is it more likely that I have contracted HSV-2 from my brief oral encounter or that I am experiencing an HSV-1 outbreak from the extreme stress I’ve been experiencing all week?

Thank you

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

8 months ago

Once you have HSV 1, the type of herpes you would get from receiving oral sex, in one location on your body (your lip) it is extremely unlikely you would then acquire this in a new location. HSV 2 oral infection is rare and when it is present, it rarely recurs or sheds. So I think you should not worry about this encounter.

terri

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8 months ago

Hi Terri,

So just to clarify, since I already have HSV-1 in the mouth the chances of me getting oral HSV-2 from being the person who performed oral sex on someone are rare? So the current cold sore I have on my lip is most likely due to the pre-existing HSV-1? Stress can be a trigger for an outbreak, correct? So more than likely the stress and anxiety I have are more likely to cause this than me having contracted oral HSV-2?

I’ve been having a very stressful week worrying about this encounter and the outbreak of a cold sore on my lip is making me very anxious. I appreciate your responses.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

8 months ago

Yes, the cold sore you have on your lip is a recurrence of your cold sore history. Stress can be a trigger for recurrence, yes.

Terri

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8 months ago

Thanks again!

It seems like I’m experiencing other physical symptoms of stress as well such as trouble eating and sleeping and stomach issues. It would seem this is just a badly timed stress-induced HSV-1 outbreak then.

Please just a final clarification before closing the thread. The likelihood that I would contract HSV-2 from briefly (<1 min) performing oral sex on someone with no apparent sores, in addition to already having HSV-1 are low? And the chances of having oral HSV-1 and HSV-2 are low?

Thank you!

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

8 months ago

The eating and sleeping issues are not connected to HSV but they could be connected to anxiety about this situation. Yes, the odds of getting HSV 2 from giving brief oral sex is very low indeed. If you continue to worry about this, we can do the herpes western blot for greatest clarity

Terri

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