Herpes Sores-Is it Contagious?

What are the facts about herpes sores?  That’s an important question that everyone should know the answer to.  There seems to be a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about this admittedly unpleasant topic, but in this case, ignorance is most definitely not bliss.  Genital herpes and other forms of the virus are rampant, and everyone of us needs to know as much as we can about it.   In this article we’ll focus only on herpes sores, since that seems to be the source of much of the confusion that’s out there.  We’ll do it in a Q&A format.

Are cold sores herpes sores?

Yes, they are.  The herpes virus doesn’t just manifest itself as genital herpes, and cold sores are one of the more common kinds.  A person can also get herpes of the eye.

Can you catch genital herpes from someone with a cold sore?

Yes, you certainly can.  And the chances of doing so go through the roof if you engage in oral sex with a person with a cold sore.  It’s a common myth that genital herpes and the herpes that causes cold sores are two different, unrelated viruses, but it’s just that, a myth.  It’s a myth that has resulted in thousands of people coming down with genital herpes.

If a person has genital herpes, but no active sores, can I catch herpes from them?

Yes.  Anyone who carries the herpes virus can transmit it to you during sexual activity, whether they have an active outbreak or not.  In fact, millions of people carry the herpes virus, but never get outbreaks, yet can still give you genital herpes.

Hopefully this has cleared up a lot of misconceptions about herpes sores.  One in four people in the US have genital herpes, and millions of other have the kind that causes cold sores.  Either form can be transmitted to another person during sex.  So play it safe.  Don’t ignore these sores, and don’t assume that someone is herpes free because they have no sores.