Question:
A 23 year monogamous relationship ended for me several months ago. My partner had HSV2 but always sought treatment when she had an outbreak. Since I didn’t want to run the risk of infecting someone new, within the last month I had tests done for HSV1 and HSV2 which proved negative. Last week I had my first sexual encounter with an unaffected partner. I happened to have a bad cold/virus (sore throat, stuffy head) when this took place. I noticed afterwards that I had a small ulcer on the inside of my bottom lip….the kind some people get when you have an upset stomach and nothing remotely similar to the pictures I viewed that showed HSV1 cold sores. Now I question whether or not I could have infected this new partner, since we had oral sex. Since my tests proved negative, what are the chances these ulcers could have been HSV1 obtained from the cold/virus I had and what is her risk at being infected? I feel as though I need to inform her immediately if that might be the case. Thanks

Answer:
Your tests came back negative several months after your last contact, and a regular cold can't materialize into HSV (2 different viruses entirely), so I think what you had in your mouth was something else, possibly related to your cold, but not to HSV. Some people drink large quantities of orange juice when they have a cold, an excess of which can cause sores in your mouth. Maybe it's the acid, but it happens to me everytime I get carried away with the OJ. Or possibly a canker sore?

From what you say in your post, chances are pretty good that you infected your new partner with your cold (shame on you :rolleyes: ), but that's about it. Relax.