According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 500 million people in the world’s population live with a genital herpes infection. Several billion live with oral herpes.
If you’re sexually active, STDs are a worry. They can be especially troublesome because many infections (like herpes) sometimes are asymptomatic or produce symptoms so mild they go undiagnosed.
Even responsible people make mistakes. If you did, you might be worried. Can you get genital herpes from oral herpes?
Read on to learn all about herpes infections and how they spread.
Genital Herpes
The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the cause of both genital and oral herpes. HSV-1 is the official classification for oral herpes. HSV-2 is the classification for genital herpes.
HSV-2, or genital herpes, spreads through sexual contact. Your likelihood of catching this virus increases with unprotected sex. The virus transmits through skin contact and bodily fluids.
One reason your likelihood increases without protection is because your sexual partner might not even know they have it. Genital herpes incubates for 2-12 days. For most people, symptoms show in the 3-5 day range.
Once symptoms show, they might be so mild they might go unnoticed or be mistaken for a different skin condition. For this reason, many genital herpes cases go undiagnosed for years.
Oral Herpes
HSV-1, or oral herpes, is a herpes infection that spreads through saliva. It can produce sores on the lips, gums, and tongue.
Like genital herpes, there is an incubation period before symptoms appear. And like genital herpes, symptoms may never show. You may be infected right now and not know it.
Because of asymptomatic cases, you don’t need to be promiscuous to contract it. You or your partner who engage in a monogamous partnership may carry and transmit the disease to one another.
Herpes Symptoms
There are symptoms common to both genital and oral herpes, especially regarding a new infection. A new HSV infection can cause flu-like symptoms like fever, body ache, and swollen lymph nodes.
If you suspect you have an infection, book an online STD testing procedure. They are fast, easy, and discreet.
Signs of Genital Herpes
Symptoms of genital herpes show after the initial 2-12 day incubation period. If you think you have genital herpes, monitor yourself for these signs.
You may experience pain and itching around or on your genitals, including your anus and scrotum (if male). Some infections produce tiny white or red spots and blisters that will heal on their own after a few weeks.
More severe cases produce ulcers. These form when blisters burst; you may notice the secretion of pus and/or blood. When these ulcers heal, scabs form on your genitals.
If you’re male, you may notice symptoms on your penis, your scrotum, anus, and urethra. If you’re female, symptoms of genital herpes show around the vaginal area, external genitalia, and anus.
Where you show symptoms is often where the infection occurred, though you can spread herpes on yourself through contact with a sore.
Signs of Oral Herpes
If you get cold sores or fever blisters, you have oral herpes. Recurring infections often occur around the edge of your lip. If you suspect you have an oral herpes infection, look for these signs.
An initial infection brings about flu-like symptoms.
What does oral herpes look like? You’ll see redness, swelling, and itching of the infected area. Following this initial swelling and pain are blisters.
These blisters leak and then scab after 4-6 days. While HSV can pass at any time through saliva, it is at its most contagious when sores are present and open.
Chances of Catching Genital Herpes From Oral Herpes
Can you get herpes from oral sex? You may hear otherwise, but the truth is yes, you can get genital herpes from oral herpes. It works in reverse too.
Though genital and oral herpes are different classifications, they are the same virus. This virus spreads through skin contact, bodily fluids, and sexual contact.
If your sexual partner has oral herpes, they can pass it to your genitals by engaging in unprotected oral sex. If you have genital herpes, you can pass it to your partner by letting them please you without protection.
The danger is in thinking the virus is somehow different if it occurs in different parts of the body. It’s not. The occurrence of genital herpes in the mouth is oral herpes.
Prevention
Now that you know you can contract the herpes virus on your genitals from cold sores as well as through sexual intercourse, let’s talk about how you can stay safe.
There is a lot of shame and stigma associated with an STD. The truth is if you’re sexually active, your odds are good to contract one.
It happens, and there’s no reason for shame. Consensual sex is fun and exciting.
That being said, there is no cure for herpes. Once you’re infected, you have it for life. The best you can do is mitigate outbreaks through medication.
The best way to prevent the spread of herpes is to use condoms. Though condoms aren’t 100% effective in preventing genital herpes during intercourse, they drop the likelihood dramatically.
Make sure to use protection when engaging in oral sex as well. This is something you may not think about in the heat of the moment, but you should. Condoms and dental dams during oral sex prevent herpes infections.
If you’re sexually active, be responsible. Get tested on a regular basis.
If you’re embarrassed, you can book an online test that’s discreet, simple, and inexpensive. Use an STDcheck coupon for a discount.
So Can You Get Genital Herpes From Oral Herpes? Yes
You ask this question because you need to know. Can you get genital herpes from oral herpes?
Despite what your friends might tell you, you 100% can. Genital and oral herpes are the same virus.
If you’re sexually active, make sure to use protection. Be responsible and get screened for STDs. Herpes isn’t always symptomatic, and you can have it without knowing, so be careful out there!
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