Dear Dr.Cath...
PLEASE can you solve an argument with my boyfriend. I get cold sores on my mouth and have done for years, but my boyfriend tells me I could give him genital herpes. I've told him cold sores are different to genital herpes but he won't listen.
Dr.Cath says...
SORRY but I'm on your boyfriend's side.
There are two types of herpes simplex virus - HSV-1 and HSV-2. Many believe HSV-1 causes cold sores and HSV-2 causes genital herpes. True, but not the whole story.
HSV-1 does cause oral cold sores but can also cause genital infection. In fact, studies have estimated that between 20-60 per cent of genital herpes is due to HSV-1 rather than HSV-2.
This means if you give your boyfriend oral sex when you have a cold sore on your mouth he can get herpes on his penis.
This can then be spread to you genitally if you have sex.
To avoid confusion and infection don't have oral sex when you've got a cold sore.
For more information take a look at www.herpes.org.uk