HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

Can you get incurable genital herpes from a cold sore through oral sex?

3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

It is possible: That herpes simplex type i (oral) can be transmitted to the genital area through oral sex.

Answered 8/25/2013

4.9k views

Thank

Yes but not easily: Type 1 hsv which is the virus that causes oral labial herpes or cold sores- does not transmit easily to the genital area- however it is possible. Thus oral sex should be avoided if a cold sore is present.

Dr Fowler and another doctor agreed

Answered 1/6/2017

4.9k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

If i get cold sores and my partner who has a cold sore gives me oral sex, would i get genital herpes?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Preformed oral sex on bf 1 week ago. We got a cold 2 days later. I got a fever sore yesterday (1 week later). Did he get genital herpes bc of me?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

If a partner already has HSV1 and I perform oral sex on him at the "tingle" stage before a cold sore, how likely that he could get Genital Herpes?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

If I have Herpes simplex virus-1 cold sore)can I pass genital herpes to my partner through oral sex even if I dont have a cold sore at the time?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

I just gave my gf oral sex while I had a cold sore. What is the possibility of her getting genital herpes from this.

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

Is type 1 herpes be transmitted through oral sex? Is that something I have to live with for the rest of my life? My husband had a cold sore and we had oral sex. Now I have a sore on my genitals. I am afraid that this is something I have to live with for t
Possibly have a cold sore, kissed girlfriend who doesn't have one and then she gave oral sex. I'm very worried. What is the odds I get genital herpes?
Can i give my girlfriend genital herpes if i get cold sores and give her oral sex, but don't have a cold sore at the time? And if i give her cold sores, and she gives me oral sex, can I get genital herpes?
If I have a cold sore thats going away and i performed oral sex on my girlfriend for 8 seconds, will she get genital herpes?
Yesterday my boyfriend gave me oral sex with a cold sore, is there a chance i can get genital herpes?

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.