A Sore Point

Q:
I am dating this hot new girl who is a great kisser. But there is one problem—she frequently gets cold sores on her lips. I’ve heard somewhere that cold sores are highly contagious and can even be transmitted to the genitals during oral sex. Is that true, and what can I do to prevent it?

A:
Yes, what you’ve heard is true: The herpes virus, which causes cold sores, is contagious and can be transmitted to the genital area. Herpes simplex 1, or the cold-sore virus, has a preference for the oral area, while herpes simplex 2, the more familiar sexually transmitted herpes, has a preference for the genital area. But it’s possible for a cold sore to transmit HSV-1 to your penis, giving you the painful sores and flu-like symptoms that characterize the genital variety. When she gets those cold sores on her lips, take a rain check on oral sex, and if she gets them a lot, make a condom standard operating procedure when she goes down on you.

Victoria Zdrok's combination of beauty and intelligence has earned her the label as "sexpert" in many media outlets. She writes a monthly column on love, sex, and dating for Penthouse Magazine entitled "Ask Dr. Z," and a column on sexuality and the law for Penthouse Forum. She is a frequent contributor to several publications and has her own SIRIUS Satellite Radio specialty show, The Sex Connection, on Howard 101. You can find out more about Dr. Z at www.sexysexpert.com