Scarleteen

Hi all,
I'm in a long term monogamous relationship and we are each other's first sexual partners. Although neither of us have cold sores I know that it is possible to transmit oral herpes to the genitals via oral sex. Is it ok for us to start having unprotected oral sex? How would I go about ensuring our safety/checking this out?
Many thanks!

Hi Eta,

The best way to protect against transmission is to just keep having protected oral sex, either with a condom or a dental dam. You can read about transmission and testing in more detail here: The STI Files: Herpes

Personally, the moment I was of age and could have my own health choices, I asked my doctor for a quick STI testing panel. Just a bit of blood and a urine sample, and now I am pretty sure that I don't stand a risk of giving my partner any bugs.


That doesn't make you immune to STI's, though! If you can, ask your partner to get tested as well. Worst comes to worst, you will be able to work on handling any STI's safely.

Of course, these tests do cost a bit of money, and require an adult's consent if you're under a certain age. Like Sam W said, however, the safest way to keep from transmitting infection is to use protection. If anything else, that will reduce the risk the most.

Just a quick correction: in most areas, STI testing and other sexual healthcare for a legal minor does NOT require the consent of an adult.