A member asked:

Can you give yourself genital herpes from your own cold sore?

7 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Dr. Natalie Sieb answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Technically..: Yes, you could if the sore was open and shedding the virus, and you touched the sore on your mouth and then right after touched your genitals.Although this is more of a technicality,studies show that it is becoming more common than it used to be in the last decade.I would generally avoid immediate genital contact after touching an open cold sore as a rule to be safest.

Answered 12/6/2020

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Dr. Michael Roman answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

No: This is not possible. Cold sores and genital herpes are different entities

Answered 10/4/2016

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NO: Your immunity confines it to 1 place. This does not happen. Notice that you are shedding herpes virus BETWEEN attacks when you have no symptoms. In case of severely impaired immunity herpes virus may spread widely, not just to genital skin.

Answered 9/28/2016

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