That pesky cold sore

[50sLady]

Everyone here does know that cold sores or fever blisters in the mouth area means you have herpes HSV1?

Do you disclose to all your potential partners that you have herpes before you kiss them or go down on them?

You could be shedding the virus even if you do not have a sore.

[jnbsmokin]

I don't get cold sores or fever blisters, but if I did, It would be front page on my profile. I am all for honesty.

[blutygerlilly]

There are some forms of genetic herpes that manifest as cold sores on the mouth and nose. While these are not contagious they are an open wound and therefore can contract and give certain diseases through them. Its not a good idea to participate in oral sex if either partner has an open wound.

[50sLady]

Originally Posted by blutygerlilly

There are some forms of genetic herpes that manifest as cold sores on the mouth and nose. While these are not contagious they are an open wound and therefore can contract and give certain diseases through them. Its not a good idea to participate in oral sex if either partner has an open wound.

Glad to know you think cold sores on the mouth are not contagious.

FYI...if you get cold sores, you have herpes. You could be contagious at any time. Your skin may be shedding the virus with no sores visible.

[JustAskJulie]

50sLady, I applaud you for starting this thread. I think the double standard over cold sores vs genital herpes (and peoples failure to realize - or refusal to acknowledge - that one can lead to the other) is pretty ridiculous.

[tribbles]

From what we can tell, most people are positive for HSV1 by our age. People don't disclose this cuz they do not understand it. Due to that I suspect the few who DO understand, don't disclose it cuz many would shun them while carrying antibodies themselves. (sigh) Since so many have 'cold sores' at times, most do not think anything negative of it.

We have had a couple of club owners greet us and not kiss us when they had a cold sore. And people still come to their parties.

[toomuchfun]

I honestly never thought to ask (until it was too late) if any of our partners had cold sores.

Just about everyone has cold sores, and I never really thought (although now that I know more about it, my feelings have changed) about the herpes 1 transferring to the genitals. Even though I've known since childhood that cold sores are in-fact a strain of herpes.

People kiss all the time, it's crazy, no one things to ask someone for their herpes history before giving them a kiss.... family, swingers, whatever.

Oral HSV1 is thought of as an issue only when there is an open sore, I always teased people about their "herpes lips" taking a very light-hearted attitude toward it.

Take the same virus, move it downward a few feet and it becomes a whole new ball-game.

Sorry, if this post doesn't make sense I'm not trying to make any particular point, I'm just kind of rambling about what I think.

[tribbles]

Originally Posted by toomuchfun

I honestly never thought to ask (until it was too late) if any of our partners had cold sores.

Just about everyone has cold sores, and I never really thought (although now that I know more about it, my feelings have changed) about the herpes 1 transferring to the genitals. Even though I've known since childhood that cold sores are in-fact a strain of herpes.

People kiss all the time, it's crazy, no one things to ask someone for their herpes history before giving them a kiss.... family, swingers, whatever.

Oral HSV1 is thought of as an issue only when there is an open sore, I always teased people about their "herpes lips" taking a very light-hearted attitude toward it.

Take the same virus, move it downward a few feet and it becomes a whole new ball-game.

Sorry, if this post doesn't make sense I'm not trying to make any particular point, I'm just kind of rambling about what I think.

What I've read online (I dunno how true) HSV1 on the genitals means the person will shed the virus LESS and is unlikely to have many outbreaks after the first one.

[toomuchfun]

I've read the same, but it doesn't lessen the stigma.

[tribbles]

Originally Posted by toomuchfun

I've read the same, but it doesn't lessen the stigma.

I wonder if studies show that if you only play with others who have cold sores (quite a few, I bet do) that even tho you have it on your genitals, they won't catch it cuz they already have it.

Your choice to tell people.

I would bet, many people with cold sores at some point self innoculate (is it the right word? spelling?)....I mean touch the cold sore or lip area and then touch their genitals...does it cause an outbreak?

How open about having caught this do you plan to be with others?

If very open, you may want to learn as much as possible cuz I would bet, plenty of people with cold sores will understand enough to play with ya even tho your outbreak was genitals.

It would be a better place if people were educated about it, rather than emotional and see it as a stigma.

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by tribbles

I would bet, many people with cold sores at some point self innoculate (is it the right word? spelling?)....I mean touch the cold sore or lip area and then touch their genitals...does it cause an outbreak?

From what I've read this is the most common way that HSV1 is transferred to the genitals.

[havefuninsun]

I was married to a man for a LONG time who had cold sores (HSV1). I dated a guy for a long time who had HSV1. I always avoided contact with their mouths when they had an outbreak. I've never had a cold sore. Either my immune system is really good, or I'm just a very lucky girl.

If some dude had a cold sore/blister, I wouldn't kiss them, and I'd sure as hell wouldn't let them go down on me. If I knew that they got these sores (they have HSV1) and wasn't in an outbreak. I wouldn't think twice about it.

One more thing to worry about. Shesh

[toomuchfun]

Originally Posted by tribbles

How open about having caught this do you plan to be with others?

*shrugs* We have not told anyone, and we have not played with anyone since we found out. We have some pretty close friends who I think we will tell, and probably determine our further telling of people based on their reactions.

We have located one local guy who is positive for both 1 & 2 who actually seems like he would be a pretty good match for playtime... and this brings up an interesting situation.

Since we are positive for 1 only, do we want to knowingly expose ourselves to 2? He takes valtrex, and has not had an outbreak in a year or better.

I want US to be accepted, but I don't know that I am accepting, I'm still working this out in my head.....

[good times]

That is what I have read as well.

Another common form of transmission is towels, someone with a cold sore wipes their face with a towel later touched by someone else. Or a person with a could sore wipes the area and then wipes some other receptive area, like the nose, eyes, or genitals.

Another thing I once read is that, even though some herpes sites say it isn't possible, a common place to contract herpes, most common in women, is on their butt cheeks from sitting on public toilets.

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by good times

Another thing I once read is that, even though some herpes sites say it isn't possible, a common place to contract herpes, most common in women, is on their butt cheeks from sitting on public toilets.

I have read/heard that as well. From what I've read that's a pretty common way in general for women to end up with STDs. Kinda makes you want to carry baby wipes everywhere you go.