I need to get some reliable info to answer my concerns about HSV1. I'm 21 years old and first had sex when I was 15 or 16. Before ever having sex, from 11-12 years old and on I kissed literally dozens of girls, shared drinks and food with people, smoked weed with other people, shared cigarettes, etc. In high school I thought that I did sometimes get cold sores in the corner of my mouth, so I've never given oral sex and have only received it 2 or 3 times. I've had 7 partners in my life but every time I get tested for HSV1&2 three months after they always show up negative, but i know 30% of hsv1 infections are missed with igg test. Recently my lips became very dry and chapped and noticed almost what looked like a scab on my lip. I went to the dermatologist and my doctor and they both said it was dry lips& not a cold sore. I was worried about masturbating with my saliva and infecting myself with HSV1 genitally. Is it safe to assume that if I even have HSV1 that Its an oral infection? My doctors are saying I probably don't even have it. I don't know what to think about my negative tests and I'm worried if I do have hsv1 I might have given it to myself genitally, even though every time I've had something I worried about in my genital region I've had it checked out and it's never been anything my doctors think looked like herpes. Am I STD free?

If you do have HSV 1 orally it is extremely unlikely  that you would acquire the infection at a new location (genitally).  I have seen this one time in 33 years of practice. I think you are OK, particularly if you assessment that you have HSV 1.  You can find out for certain if you have HSV 1 by doing a western blot.   If you don't have HSV 1, you can acquire this from kissing or receiving oral sex.

Terri

I think, given the history that you describe, it is reasonable to assume if you did have a blot that was positive that you could pretty safely consider yourself orally infected. And if negative that you did not get it,correct.  Yes, if you get a cold sore or something you think might be a cold sore, get it swab tested.

Terri