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Cold sores
Are cold sores (fever blisters) always caused by hsv1? Meaning, if someone has had a history of having cold sores, does that automatically mean they have hsv1?
rt on daisy! when i was told i have hsv, i didn't really trip out or experience many feelings a lot of people do when they either suspect or are diagnosed with hsv. i don't know why i was so calm. i'm married, so maybe that's one reason. also, the second i suspected something wasn't quite right down there (lol), i launched into a full fledged investigation. so, before i received the official diagnosis, i knew mostly everything there is to know about hsv.
only thing i didn't know (which is huge!) is that pretty much anyone w/a cold sore has hsv1 and can spread it to someones genitals or lips. i mostly thought there were two types of cold sores, one that is contagious (hsv1) and one that isn't. so, this was shocking to me because i started to think of everyone in my family who has cold stores. i'm amazed at the ignorance that continues with the hsv discussion. i'm amazed at how many people consider their cold sore, just a cold sore. i'm amazed that so many people have no clue that they officially have herpes simplex virus (a skin condition that will never go away) and would rather bury their head in the sand and just say "i get cold sores." just amazed. especially considering the fact that it can be spread. but, if you don't admit you have something contagious that could in fact turn into genital herpes, and people continue to live in denial, it will continue to be passed on and on. also, the stigma of good herpes/bad herpes is ridiculous!! absolutely. i don't know why but i'm just baffled and flabbergasted. seriously. anyway, i've said a mouth full. i 100% agree w/everything you said daisy!
only thing i didn't know (which is huge!) is that pretty much anyone w/a cold sore has hsv1 and can spread it to someones genitals or lips. i mostly thought there were two types of cold sores, one that is contagious (hsv1) and one that isn't. so, this was shocking to me because i started to think of everyone in my family who has cold stores. i'm amazed at the ignorance that continues with the hsv discussion. i'm amazed at how many people consider their cold sore, just a cold sore. i'm amazed that so many people have no clue that they officially have herpes simplex virus (a skin condition that will never go away) and would rather bury their head in the sand and just say "i get cold sores." just amazed. especially considering the fact that it can be spread. but, if you don't admit you have something contagious that could in fact turn into genital herpes, and people continue to live in denial, it will continue to be passed on and on. also, the stigma of good herpes/bad herpes is ridiculous!! absolutely. i don't know why but i'm just baffled and flabbergasted. seriously. anyway, i've said a mouth full. i 100% agree w/everything you said daisy!
Unfortunately that is the way it is with Herpes, Oral HSV1 has long been regarded as a part of life and few people take much notice of it,unfortunately the same cannot be said for HSV2 which is sad really because it is virtually the same thing only in a different place,but as soon as the word Genital is used it drags the whole matter to a different level even though those who have HSV1 Orally may be guilty of passing to someone's Genitals they seem to think that cannot happen,it's good that you are using what you know as fact to try to educate others.
I also am amazed by the stigma attached to HSV2 yet little if any at all to HSV1 even though the only real difference is the location of outbeaks it seems it's perfectly ok to walk around with large cold sores on your face and no one makes any moral judgements,but just try saying you get the same thing only on your genitals and see the difference in reaction,but thats the way it has always been and always will be until this stigma is outlawed altogether.It has always been my personal view that typing should never have been allowed to happen Herpes is Herpes regardless of where the outbreaks happen and there should be no "good" or "bad" Herpes since it is a skin condition that is transmissable and for now is incurable regardless of where the lesions present themselves.
HSV1 is considered the "good" Herpes ... that is until it is transmitted to someones Genitals then it instantly becomes not so good but is still not considered to be particularly sexually transmitted whereas HSV2 is ..... it's all very very confusing and pretty unkind to those of us who have HSV2 ......
More education is desperately needed to show just how similar the two are and equally easy to transmit to other locations.
They say that anything below the boxer line is regarded as HSV2 yet it is not the case should someone test + for HSV1 in that area it is then simply called Genital HSV1 .... to me you either have Oral HSV or Genital HSV I personally see no need whatsoever for making one out to be worse than the other when in essense they are just the same,but the stigma that has been put on it causes so much heartache and upset that could so easily have been avoided,also the fact that people with genital HSV2 hide it from everyone because of the stigma therefore it is likely to spread more and more because no one dares be open about it in the same way they are about Oral Herpes for fear of rejection.
I may get some reactions to my reply here but I am entitled to my opinion and thats all it is at the end of the day. We all have one!
Daisy
I also am amazed by the stigma attached to HSV2 yet little if any at all to HSV1 even though the only real difference is the location of outbeaks it seems it's perfectly ok to walk around with large cold sores on your face and no one makes any moral judgements,but just try saying you get the same thing only on your genitals and see the difference in reaction,but thats the way it has always been and always will be until this stigma is outlawed altogether.It has always been my personal view that typing should never have been allowed to happen Herpes is Herpes regardless of where the outbreaks happen and there should be no "good" or "bad" Herpes since it is a skin condition that is transmissable and for now is incurable regardless of where the lesions present themselves.
HSV1 is considered the "good" Herpes ... that is until it is transmitted to someones Genitals then it instantly becomes not so good but is still not considered to be particularly sexually transmitted whereas HSV2 is ..... it's all very very confusing and pretty unkind to those of us who have HSV2 ......
More education is desperately needed to show just how similar the two are and equally easy to transmit to other locations.
They say that anything below the boxer line is regarded as HSV2 yet it is not the case should someone test + for HSV1 in that area it is then simply called Genital HSV1 .... to me you either have Oral HSV or Genital HSV I personally see no need whatsoever for making one out to be worse than the other when in essense they are just the same,but the stigma that has been put on it causes so much heartache and upset that could so easily have been avoided,also the fact that people with genital HSV2 hide it from everyone because of the stigma therefore it is likely to spread more and more because no one dares be open about it in the same way they are about Oral Herpes for fear of rejection.
I may get some reactions to my reply here but I am entitled to my opinion and thats all it is at the end of the day. We all have one!
Daisy
oops, daisy i just posted in my other thread asking the same question. disregard. lol. i didn't know you'd already answered here. so, if someone has cold sores, is it pretty much a go that they have hsv1?
the reason i'm asking is i have several family members who've always had cold sores. you know how when you get something and learn how prevalent it is, you pretty much think everyone has it? especially when i hear over and over again on these messages boards, on google, and wikipedia that cold sores = hsv1. i guess i'm asking because i'm literally blown away that hsv is soooooo prevalent. what blows me away also is that people w/cold sores who have hsv1 orally have NO CLUE that it can be transmitted to the genitals, as was the case w/me. it's amazing. also, i've talked to so many people lately, educating. and, i'm so alarmed that so many people have no clue about hsv. i didn't before i was diagnosed but i don't think i was as clueless and ill informed as many people i've been talking too lately. they hear the word "herpes" and think of nasty lesion filled blisters on the genitals. i now know that someone who simply thinks they have cold sores can cause those nasty painful lesion filled blisters. what amazes me also is the family members i am talking about refuse to be tested. i've informed them that if taking suppressive therapy (if they see fit), avoiding any type of sexual activity when experiencing an active fever blister, and using condoms for oral sex can significantly reduce chances of spreading the virus. but, they refuse to get tested and simply believe their colds sores are just that. it's so crazy to me that people are continuing to be negligent!
the reason i'm asking is i have several family members who've always had cold sores. you know how when you get something and learn how prevalent it is, you pretty much think everyone has it? especially when i hear over and over again on these messages boards, on google, and wikipedia that cold sores = hsv1. i guess i'm asking because i'm literally blown away that hsv is soooooo prevalent. what blows me away also is that people w/cold sores who have hsv1 orally have NO CLUE that it can be transmitted to the genitals, as was the case w/me. it's amazing. also, i've talked to so many people lately, educating. and, i'm so alarmed that so many people have no clue about hsv. i didn't before i was diagnosed but i don't think i was as clueless and ill informed as many people i've been talking too lately. they hear the word "herpes" and think of nasty lesion filled blisters on the genitals. i now know that someone who simply thinks they have cold sores can cause those nasty painful lesion filled blisters. what amazes me also is the family members i am talking about refuse to be tested. i've informed them that if taking suppressive therapy (if they see fit), avoiding any type of sexual activity when experiencing an active fever blister, and using condoms for oral sex can significantly reduce chances of spreading the virus. but, they refuse to get tested and simply believe their colds sores are just that. it's so crazy to me that people are continuing to be negligent!
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
