I’m a new member and I have had cold sores since I was a teenager. I am now in my 50’s. I met a wonderful woman 2 months ago and before we became intimate she told me that she contracted Genital Herpes 15 years ago but was not sure whether it was HSV 1 or HSV 2. I accepted this quite easily because of the way I felt about her and also I knew that I had Oral Herpes most probably HSV 1 myself. We each were tested for STDs and she tested positive for HSV 2 and me for HSV 1. We have had both protected and unprotected intercourse and oral sex with no protection. 2weeks ago I had an outbreak on my lips, which was in a different location, and more involved it seems than ever before around my mouth. I have used Zovirax cream very successfully in the past and with this particular outbreak this medication seemed to offer little relief. The new site has since stopped itching and seems to finally be dryer and is now healing after several weeks. I plan on getting tested again as a follow up in a few months to see if I do have HSV 2 (yet) but my questions now are:

1) If I do have both HSV 1 and now HSV 2 in my oral area would it be possible for me to contract HSV 1 (again) or HSV 2 (again) genitally as well?

2) Is it still possible for my lady partner to contract HSV 1 from me genitally and HSV 2 (again) from me orally, if I do have both, or is she protected from HSV 2 orally because she already has HSV 2 genitally?

3) As I am only suspecting a “different” sort of obviously HSV outbreak, what are the chances of my having possibly contracted HSV 2 orally from my partner when she is not experiencing an active outbreak after 15 years of her having this HSV condition?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide me and for others to refer to as well.

Thanks again all! Now I'm starting to get real curious about this HSV 1 & 2 condition we share, it does seem many details are not readily available or maybe even known, however as I have mentioned I really do appreciate all of your responses, possibly someone's new post will answer a few more of our questions.

The reason that I think that I may have picked up my lady friend's HSV 2 from her genitals is because the sores that I had most recently were in my center lower lip area compared to the corner of my lower lip which is where my previously diagnosed & tested HSV 1 has presented itself for 30 plus years. Also the sores seemed more severe and did not seem to respond so well to the Zovirax cream that has worked well for 7-8 years or so. Having said this the sores were almost more like a pimple this time though with a little yellow head. Sorry to be so bit graphic but description seems necessary.

Also curious as to the statement that rare but possible oral HSV 2 would not occur again and it is unlikely that you could spread it? How could this be? Is this correct or did I misunderstand?

My attitude is that whatever I've got, I've got and will have forever so what else can I do but accept it right? Plus I am in a very, very good relationship which I expect will weather many storms so a little HSV 1 or 2 between intimate friends is acceptable to both of us, in fact it may even have created a tighter bond in that we know we want to be together even with this initial risk factor. But I would hope that even though I may have recieved HSV 2 from my lady that I will not give her my HSV 1 or possibly her HSV 2 again in a different location.

I hope we will receive some more posts to further this thread.