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My girlfriend wants to do oral on me and "swallow". I know for vaginal sex definitely we'd have to use a condom, but not sure for oral. I know HSV2 prefers the genital area. Would it be better for her to just use her hands to avoid the extended oral contact and then just make me "finish" in her mouth? The "swallowing" thing apparently is important to her because she's persistent with it. So is it in semen? Having the green light to just "do it" sounds too good to be true. So I'd like to know how to do this safely. Thank you. (I was diagnosed more than 10 years ago and I'm asymptomatic)

Hello everyone! My question is can someone who is hsv negative get hsv2 from oral sex with someone hsv2 positive? Is this something we need to worry about? Thanks in advance!

hello everyone, first timer here and pretty scared. oral herpes is very common i know, but im not sure if i have it. for months i’ve been having this stinging feeling on my lips, like there are tiny cuts since i have dry lips, but nothing ever comes up. its always continously tingling off and on, most of the time in the same spot but sometimes in another, it usually happens during the evening and when i go to sleep and wake up it stops. only two times i’ve gotten like these individual tiny tiny red dots on my lip that didnt hurt nor did they have fluid filled heads, i only noticed bc i looked in the mirror and if i put apple cider vinegar or peroxide on them they start to go away and are basically gone the next day. usually cold sores are painful right? even when they are small? im just very confused bc of the tingling/stinging sensation, i bought lysine (both pills and cream) to see if it would help but im not sure if it does. i went to get tested but they said that they dont test unless i have a cold sore, so im not sure whats going on. any thoughts?

hey everyone, i'm not sure if i have oral herpes or not. for months i have been feeling stinging in different areas of my lips, like it'll be on the right side of the bottom for a few weeks, and then of the left for a few days, then back to the right side, stuff like that. i also have dry lips but am not sure if its the dryness (since they get real chapped and might be splitting) or what, but every time i feel a sting or tingle i always put on apple cinder vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and then go to sleep, sometimes i also take lysine. when i wake up the tingling is gone and it doesnt come back till the next day and repeat. i believe i could have been infected a few months ago, so this would be my first outbreak. i want to know if there was anyway i could be stopping a sore for popping up for the first time because this stinging has been continuous for weeks and weeks but nothing has surfaced. and i havent felt any flu like symptoms, like fever or swollen and tender lymph nodes (maybe a little since im always poking at them tho) or sore throat, and i hear that the first outbreak is usually the worst so????? help lol

Hey y'all, My question is, is suppression therapy even worth it? I have tired to do a lot of research but I seem to get the same answers and I just want answers from real people living the same situation as mine. I know a LOT about HIV and treatment and all of that, due to my personal people in my life, and I know that there is this thing called U=U (undetectable = untransmittable) meaning HIV suppression works to prevent the spread of HIV during sex, so much so that you don't even have to wear condoms with HIV negative partners because there is virtually no risk. Now what I want to know if its the same for herpes? I don't mind using condoms, I want to make sure that my current partner is safe and that they run no risk, but what about during oral sex? I've been on valacyclovir for 5 days now, and only have 2 pills left. I want to be suppressed so I want to continue taking the medication, but not if it wont even reduce the shedding. I'm worried about shedding the virus when I don't have breakouts. I want to continue giving and receiving oral without being paranoid of giving my partner oral herpes. Please help, anything from your experience will help.

Hi all, It's been a long time since I visited here. But feel the need to tell a little of my battle since 2014 with what my Infectious Disease Dr. calls "the most aggressively virulent case of disseminated HSV2" he's ever treated. What does that mean? It means I have it everywhere. Literally there is no part of my body that has not had blisters in the last 48 months. Well, I contracted this strain of HSV2 from my wife who is asymptomatic Fall of 2014. As happens, it went undiagnosed and untreated for too long. After a week or two, I had 27 ulcers on and around my genitals. Cut ulcers, round ones, rectal, everywhere. At one point was taking 4 GRAMS of acyclovir per day and it did nothing. During the undiagnosed period, I spread the virus into my mouth, and orofacial nerve system. 4 months after my genital primary outbreak came the oral outbreak. The entire hard palate of my mouth and throat became a 2 inch ulcer. I could not eat soft foods without gargling with Lidocaine and codeine liquid first. This lasted 3 weeks. Again, antivirals were used (all 3, acyc, valacyc, famvir) to no effect. My eyes became involved, beard area, and every surface of my mouth. At one point along my gums I counted 37 tiny ulcers with a flashlight. It was, I thought, the end of my life. The depression that coincided (I am bipolar as well) was the blackest pit one can imagine. I saw 7 different doctors. I took a lot of narcotic pain relievers. Acupuncture, reiki, chinese herbalists, naturopaths, psychiatrists, ID, dermatology, you name it. They all could not believe at the time this was all HSV related. But it was. I knew it. We all know it deep in our hearts and gut. I had every immune and blood test known to medicine. There is nothing else but this. This virus is the modern scourge of mankind. This all happened within 6 months. Then, as it does, the virus slowly retreated into my nerves. Outbreaks became less severe, though still absolutely nonstop on some part of my body. I had whitlow on fingers and toes. Clusters of blisters on my arms, scalp, back, neck, and lower legs. If I brushed against something that irritated my skin, an outbreak began within 12-18 hours. Am I trying to claim the worst experience ever? No. I am here because I survived. I am now still taking daily doses of both Valacyclovir and Famvir, alternating 3 times a day. I take every supplement. I have found a psychiatrist who understands what this does to our minds and souls. My bipolar is being handled with success for the 1st time in my adult life. I got married, and we now have a beautiful healthy 6 month old boy. There are times when I am covered in bandages so I can hold him without worrying of infection, but somehow it works. If I can live with this, we all can. It has made me treat my body like the temple it is. I don't drink, smoke, eat processed foods or sugar, wear sunscreen, sunglasses, bathe in epsom salts and oils, drink water with decaf green tea all day. There is still some viral activity every day. A nerve twinge, a lump of hot skin erupting. But I have found ways to stop or lessen the pain and duration. 1. Anasept gel (amazon prime). This is a wound cleaning gel or spray that is used in hospitals and kills very gently almost all microbes. Think of it as Lysol for the skin. It is used for burn victims and people with bed sores, diabetic ulcers, etc. I am shocked that nowhere online can I find mention of it with HSV. You can use this anywhere including the genitals and anus. I keep a tube of this in the car, in my desk, and in every bathroom. 2. Bactine. This is less effective for me than the Anasept, but still works to calm the skin after sex, swimming, golf and sweating, etc. I keep this everywhere as well and it is available in almost every store. 3. Orajel max strength triple medicated gel. This is the only thing I have found OTC for the mucous membranes and hard surfaces of the mouth and inside the nose. Every night before bed I put it on my tongue and coat my mouth, as dryness tends to have me wake with new blisters. 4. Anti-dandruff organic shampoos. I use a lavender one that has helped control the large blisters on the scalp and back of the neck. 5. Ice. Always. 6. Biofreeze menthol spray. If I have been in the sun, and my shoulders start to tingle, or my low back, I apply this liberally. Cooling and therapeutic to calm the skin. 7. Faith and prayer. I have never had spirituality or faith in a higher power until the last several years. I cannot stress enough the power of prayer to calm the body, heart, and mind. I hope this helps. Modern medicine does little for me, but treating these bastards as soon as I sense them is helping me survive and even thrive. If I can do this, you can too. I wish for you all the love and peace in the universe. -J

I'm hoping to find more information about the possibility of oral hsv2 transmission, the likeliness of it happening, do many of you have it? Have many/any of you given it? I'm finding it difficult to find information on this, I know it's rare, but if it is a possibility I'd like to be able to offer concise, factual information to my partner, not just "oh it's so rare, don't even worry about it." In short I really miss being on the receiving end of oral sex so any light anyone could shed on this would be oh so helpful. Please!!! I'm losing my [email protected] mind!!!!!

I have Oral Herpes type two. Yes positive. I need more information on symptoms and transmission rates, and can I kiss again?? :( I have kissed someone and I want to know if that can pass on to him? Not too much info out there on oral type two. Please help! - Liz

I have herpes. What a load off my chest. I know that I know none of you personally and anyone who reads this probably doesn’t know who I am, but despite that I have told you something I don’t even tell my closest friends. I’ve had herpes for about four months and the first outbreak had to be one of the most, if not THE most, painful thing I’ve ever experienced. I had no idea what was going on to my body, so you can imagine the shock when my doctor brought up the possibility of me having the STD. My heart dropped. There was no way. I was in a monogamous relationship for four years and both he and I were virgins when we met. I had been with no one else. So you can imagine what was going on through my head. The words, “My amazing, sweet, and loving boyfriend…cheated on me.” The thought was worse than getting diagnosed. It turns out, however, he had HSV-1 since he was a little kid and had mistaken it for only cold sores of the mouth. Turns out HSV-1 can be transferred to different areas of the body. We had no idea. He got tested and came back positive for HSV-1. So did I. I can’t be angry with him. It’s not as if he purposely tried to give this to me, he had no clue. Even if he did know, I’m not sure if it would have exactly changed anything in our relationship; now that I’ve been fully informed about HSV. It’s strange how much the media brings such a negative vibe on Herpes; as if only unfaithful and the sex-crazed get this virus and anyone with it should be shunned. Huh… You know, in a way, I’m kind of thankful for Herpes. It’s given me a better sense of judgment.

i have a quick random question but is it possible to get oral herpes by touching an open sore in the genitals

Hi Y'all! Had a quick question concerning French kissing (mouth to mouth). Is it possible in any way to transmit HSV-2 to my partner this way? I know that HSV-1 can be, but wasn't sure about the other kind. Many thanks ahead of time for your consideration of my query, and your possible response. Have a great day!