[Question #1510] Cold sores
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81 months ago
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When is it okay to kiss or have personal contact after a cold sore? I had a cold sore that started over two weeks ago but it never blistered since I am on Valtrex. There still is a slight red spot on my lip. Is it still contagious?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
81 months ago
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I think my answer depends upon the personal contact that you are planning on having and with whom. If you are talking about a passionate kiss or giving someone oral sex, it is highly unlikely that you would be infectious to others, especially since you are on Valtrex, but I can't say there is zero chance that you could be shedding virus. If you are talking about kissing a child with a peck on the cheek or lips, that's quite safe. I think what you are saying is that you started to get a cold sore and the Valtrex stopped it from developing into a full blown cold sore, is that correct?
I'm guessing that you already know that you could be giving off virus from your lips, even when you don't have a cold sore, but the Valtrex greatly reduces the frequency of viral shedding.
Terri
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I'm guessing that you already know that you could be giving off virus from your lips, even when you don't have a cold sore, but the Valtrex greatly reduces the frequency of viral shedding.
Terri
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81 months ago
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That's correct. I started to get a cold sore but Valtrex stopped it from fully developing. It's been three weeks since the cold sore first started. I still feel occasional tingling in the area. Does the tingling mean it's even more contagious? Also, what is the standard advice for females with hsv1 regarding oral sex.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
81 months ago
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It's really impossible to know if you are actively shedding virus at any specific time when you don't have an actual sore. Out of caution, I would say it is possible with tingling that you might be shedding.
Your next question is trickier. And opinions are not consistent between providers. So I will give you my personal opinion. I think one of two things could happen - you could disclose your HSV 1 status to the person to whom you are giving oral sex and ask if they have ever had a cold sore - if they have, there is almost not risk of transferring it to the genital area of that person. I suppose the other option would be to have that person (if a male) always use a condom and be careful that your mouth is only in contact with the condom. The other option of course would be to disclose AND have your partner use a condom. New research just out this month suggests that people with recurrent cold sores shed virus on about 27% of days - not a small number of days. Let me know what you think about that response.
Terri
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Your next question is trickier. And opinions are not consistent between providers. So I will give you my personal opinion. I think one of two things could happen - you could disclose your HSV 1 status to the person to whom you are giving oral sex and ask if they have ever had a cold sore - if they have, there is almost not risk of transferring it to the genital area of that person. I suppose the other option would be to have that person (if a male) always use a condom and be careful that your mouth is only in contact with the condom. The other option of course would be to disclose AND have your partner use a condom. New research just out this month suggests that people with recurrent cold sores shed virus on about 27% of days - not a small number of days. Let me know what you think about that response.
Terri
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