STIs and HIV - FAQs
Genital herpes
Can herpes (sores of the mouth) be transmitted to genitals in form of genital herpes?
There are two different strains of the herpes virus. HSV Type 1 which is also known as cold sores, and HSV Type 2 which are also called genital herpes. It is definitely possible to pass oral herpes to your partner’s genitals through oral sex. Although the outbreak may not be as severe if you have HSV Type 1 on your genitals, it can still be quite painful and uncomfortable. The risk of passing HSV Type 2 from the genitals to mouth is lower.
