My girlfriend and I have the cold sore virus. Can you give yourself genital herpes during unprotected oral sex or are you immune?

Hello Sir,

The risk of transferring the virus from the mouth to the genitals is very low for type 1 herpes (the most common type in cold sores). That said, the risk is not zero, and the fact that you and your spouse both had it does not reduce that risk any further.

In other words, yes, it is theoretically possible for you to give yourself herpes, but the risk is very low.

Happy evening,

Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist