Can i spread hsv-1 from my lip to my genitals?

[let_the_fear_go]

I keep getting cold sores very often lately. I guess it is due to my high levels of stress and a lot of antibiotics I took because of recurrent UTIs. My first outbreak was when I was 10 years old and then I had it every 2 years or so but now it keeps coming back every 1-2 weeks. I am pretty scared that I might spread it accidentally from my lip to my genitals. I am very careful and I always wash my hands after touching my mouth and also before and after using the toilet. But the fear doesn't go away because of the possibility of me touching the cold sore and not realising I did and then infect my genitals or other parts of my body.
Also, I want to add the fact that those cold sores might come back pretty often but they heal in almost no time. I had myself checked for STDs too, even though I am in a monogamous relationship and we are now both checked and healthy. Should i really be worried about autoinoculation?

[auntiejessi]

Since you've had it long enough to develop antibodies (which takes no longer than a few months), you will likely never spread it to another part of your body. Your antibodies will protect you against that.

Every 1-2 weeks? Are you sure these are cold sores? You should let a doctor take a look and make sure something else is going on. Most cold sores take at least a week to heal. If they are cold sores, you might consider suppressive therapy, like daily valtrex or acyclovir, to help prevent them. Talk to your doctor about it.

[let_the_fear_go]

Thank you for your answer. I am now 20 years old, it means I carry the virus for 10 years now. Well my lip in some place gets red and I can feel that a cold sore is about to pop up so I apply on it some zovirax cream and it's gone in 1-3 days. In other words, the cold sore doesn't even really form and it's gone before I know it. Then after few days the same thing happens in the same or other part of my lip and the cycle is repeated again and again. Also, I have 2 more questions. Can I kiss my fiancé during that time? He had cold sores on his lip since his childhood as well. Also, is it possible that I "reinfect" myself again and again since I don't always change toothbrush after having a cold sore? Can you actualy "reinfect" yourself like that?

[auntiejessi]

If you and your fiance both have hsv1, you don't need to worry about infecting each other, or autoinoculation (reinfecting yourselves).

You can kiss your fiance at any time, and you don't need to change your toothbrush. Again, your antibodies are protecting you.