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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>Can You Get Genital Herpes From a Cold Sore?</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h4>Can you get genital herpes from someone who has a cold sore?<br /></h4><p>Yes, it is possible to get genital herpes from oral sex.</p><p><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-herpes.html">Genital herpes</a> is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes viruses, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Oral herpes (<a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/cold-sores.html">cold sores</a>) is usually caused by HSV-1.</p><p>Someone with HSV-1 can spread the virus through oral sex, even if they don't have sores at the time.</p><p>The only way to prevent genital herpes and other STDs is abstinence. This means not having sex (oral, vaginal, or anal). Using a condom during sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) can prevent most STDs. Flavored condoms can be used for oral sex on a penis. Girls should have their partners use a <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/dental-dams.html">dental dam</a> every time they receive oral sex to help protect against genital herpes. And if either partner has a sore, it's best to not have sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) until the sore has cleared up.</p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Lonna P. Gordon, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: December 2020</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std.html">STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/std-herpes.html">Genital Herpes</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/dental-dams.html">What Are Dental Dams?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/contraception-condom.html">Condoms</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/transmit-hsv.html">If Someone With Herpes Has No Sores, Can They Pass the Virus to Others?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/cold-sores.html">Cold Sores (HSV-1) Symptoms, Causes, & Prevention</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/the-talk.html">Talking to Your Partner About STDs</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/talk-about-condoms.html">Talking to Your Partner About Condoms</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/hsv1-sores.html?view=ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/hsv1-sores.html?view=emailto" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,8,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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