Can u get herpes in your mouth

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Big families can be overwhelming. Herpes is actually a family of viruses and a big one at that. In fact, there are over 100 forms of herpesvirus in this extended family, and that can feel, well, like a little much to wrap your head around (Whitley, 1996). But think of it this way: It’s like a huge family you invited to a big family reunion, but only a couple showed up. There are only nine types of herpes viruses that affect humans, and one of them does so only extremely rarely. Quite a relief compared to dealing with over 100, right?

Herpes is actually quite misunderstood. Different types of this virus don’t just cause sexually transmitted diseases like genital herpes and oral herpes, which you probably know as cold sores. Some of these viruses cause illnesses that you likely had as a child, like mononucleosis (mono) or chickenpox. And herpes is far more common than people think. Almost everyone is infected with some form of the virus, though two types are by far the most common. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which people associate with cold sores, affects an estimated 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 (Looker, 2015). And the World Health Organization also estimates that around 417 million people worldwide between the ages of 15 and 49 have herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), the type commonly associated with genital herpes (Herpes Simplex Virus, 2017).

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But figuring out how many people have genital herpes is getting complicated. Serena McKenzie ND, IF, NCMP, Medical Director of the Northwest Institute for Healthy Sexuality, says she’s seen a recent 40% increase in type 1 genital herpes outbreaks. That means the type of herpes we typically associate with the mouth is being passed through oral sex and causing more genital herpes cases. Just like many of the other types of herpes can cause more than one illness, sexual health experts are finding that HSV-1 and HSV-2 can’t be considered separately by location on the body. Here’s what you need to know about herpes transmission, how you can get HSV-2 on your mouth, and how you can get HSV-1 on your genitals.

Can genital herpes be transmitted orally? And, can cold sores lead to genital herpes?

The short answer is yes, and through oral sex. We know the HSV-1 typically causes oral herpes. And we know that HSV-2 typically causes genital herpes. But it turns out these territories on the body are not exclusive. HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes (and this type of infection is exactly what Dr. McKenzie is seeing on the rise). And HSV-2 can also cause oral herpes, although it is rare (Yura, 1991). But this makes sense physiologically. HSV-2 can cause infection in mucosal linings, which aren’t just present in your genital areas. They’re also present in your mouth and anus. 

So what is needed for any of this to happen? In one word: contact. If your mouth comes in contact with genitals that are infected, or if your genitals come in contact with a mouth that is infected, it doesn’t matter which type of HSV it is. There’s a chance the infection will spread. And it’s worth noting that your partner doesn’t have to have lesions to pass HSV-2 to your mouth or genitals. Although the virus is most contagious during an outbreak, Dr. McKenzie points out that viral shedding occurs after the first outbreak even when the virus isn’t active. This shedding of herpes virus cells has been observed in both men and women, and it’s enough to pass on the infection.

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In some rare cases, HSV-1 or HSV-2 may also cause herpes esophagitis, which is a herpes infection in the esophagus. HSV-1 or HSV-2 can cause this condition, although HSV-1 is far more common. But it’s extremely rare in people with healthy immune systems (Canalejo Castrillero, 2010).

It’s important to keep in mind that nothing is 100% effective against the transmission of herpes. But there are precautions you can take with your partner to diminish the risk of infection. People diagnosed with a herpes infection are sometimes prescribed daily antiviral medication to manage and prevent outbreaks. There are different types of herpes medications, such as acyclovir (brand name Sitavig, Zovirax), valacyclovir (brand name Valtrex; see Important Safety Information), or famciclovir (brand name Famvir). These can all help control herpes symptoms, but they do not completely prevent transmission of the virus.

Before entering into a sexual relationship, partners should consider testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) so each person can make an informed decision about contact and take steps needed to cut the risk of transmission. Herpes is not routinely tested for, so you need to be sure to ask for this test specifically. Condoms and dental dams can help prevent the spread of herpes, though neither is 100% effective. Limiting sexual partners or choosing a monogamous relationship can help reduce your risk only in so far as it shrinks the number of people you come into contact with who potentially have HSV-1 or HSV-2. It can also help to avoid sexual contact during herpes outbreaks when it is the most contagious, though herpes can still be passed when the virus is dormant, and the person is asymptomatic. It’s important to think about all points of contact, too. “If people are dating, herpes can transmit through sex toy use, which is another factor many people do not consider when they’re talking about safer sex,” Dr. McKenzie cautions.

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If you’re in an open relationship, regular screening for STIs by all parties and open communication will help everyone lower their risk of infection. Medical professionals test for herpes infections in several ways. There are different tests for people showing symptoms, but for those looking to find out if they have herpes, medical professionals run a blood test looking for antibodies to the virus. But most of these tests look for IgG, which means it may not pick up if you’ve been recently infected with the virus.

  1. Canalejo Castrillero, E., García Durán, F., Cabello, N., & García Martínez, J. (2010). Herpes esophagitis in healthy adults and adolescents: report of 3 cases and review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore), 89(4): 204-210. doi: 10.1097/MD.0b013e3181e949ed. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20616659 
  2. Herpes simplex virus. (2017, January 31). Retrieved Feb. 1, 2020 from https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus 
  3. Looker, K. J., Magaret, A. S., May, M. T., Turner, K. M. E., Vickerman, P., Gottlieb, S. L., et al. (2015). Global and Regional Estimates of Prevalent and Incident Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infections in 2012. Plos One, 10(10). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140765. Retrieved from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140765
  4. Whitley, R. J. (1996). Herpesvirus. In Medical Microbiology (4th ed.). Galveston, TX: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8157/
  5. Yura, Y., Iga, H., Kondo, Y., Harada, K., Yanagawa, T., Yoshida, H., et al. (1991). Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 infection in human oral mucosa in culture. Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine, 20(2), 68–73. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1991.tb00892.x. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1849992?dopt=Abstract

What does herpes on the mouth look like?

In oral herpes, most blisters appear on the lips or mouth. They can also form elsewhere on the face, especially around the chin and below the nose, or on the tongue. At first, the sores look similar to small bumps or pimples before developing into pus-filled blisters. These may be red, yellow or white.

Can you get STD herpes in your mouth?

HSV-1 often causes oral herpes, which can result in cold sores or fever blisters on or around the mouth. However, most people with oral herpes do not have any symptoms. Most people with oral herpes get it during childhood or young adulthood from non-sexual contact with saliva.

How do you get herpes in mouth?

Most people with oral herpes were infected during childhood or as young adults from nonsexual contact with infected saliva. It can be passed by kissing, touching the infected person's skin, or sharing infected objects such as lip balm, silverware, or razors.