How long should I wait to perform oral after a cold sore heals?

[feelnjstfine78]

I have HSV-1 and recently had a cold sore. It is completely healed as of today and was wondering how long I should wait to perform oral on my partner to minimize the chance of transmission onto their genitals? Thanks

[auntiejessi]

You should wait until the skin is back to normal color - all the redness is gone.

How often do you get cold sores? Does your partner know you have it? Have they been tested? If they already have hsv1, you can't give it to them.

[feelnjstfine78]

Thank you. There is no redness or sign of where the sore was at this point.

I've gotten them since I was a child, getting a cold sore about once every couple of years.

I just recently recieved the official diagnosis of HSV-1 + and HSV-2 - ,because this is a new partner and I went throuugh a full panel STI screening prior to being active with her. I will most definitely tell her my status, and it would be nice if she could get tested as well to know if she is already a carrier or not as well.

[auntiejessi]

If you're in the US, your partner can get a test at STDCheck.com or Letsgetchecked.com. Her doctor can also do the test, but sometimes doctors are uneducated about herpes. Make sure she asks for a type specific IgG blood test.

Good luck. :)

[feelnjstfine78]

STDCheck.com is what I used and am thoroughly impressed by it. Extremely fairly priced, test for far more than what most doctors recommend or generally offer, and so quick and simple to use/do. I am sure most people have never been tested for herpes 1 or 2 because it not high on the list of screening and usually only done if there are symptoms, even though people can easily be asymptomatic. Yet they are both included in their 10 test panel. I'm glad you recommended STDCheck too, because it 100% has my backing.

[auntiejessi]

Oh that's good to know. We are not partnered with them or anything, and I recommend them because it's so hard for some people to get their doctors to give them herpes tests - a different subject that annoys me. And like you said, it's very fairly priced for those who don't have insurance or want to self-pay.

Thanks for the info :)