Some people have a higher risk than others of acquiring HSV-2 through oral sex, including: Similarly, HSV-2 can pass from the mouth of a person who carries it to the genital area of another person as a result of giving oral sex. If the genital area of a person with HSV-2 makes physical contact with the mucous membranes in another person’s mouth, the virus may enter the nervous system and lead to oral herpes.
These are moist linings in certain parts of the body, including the vagina, anus, and mouth.īecause the mouth is an area lined with mucous membranes, HSV-2 can still spread through oral sex. HSV-2 is transmissible when areas of skin with the virus come into contact with mucous membranes. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a different form of herpes that spreads more commonly through oral sexual contact than HSV-2, according to a 2019 review of studies. It is less common for this infectious agent to transmit through oral sex. HSV-2 generally passes between hosts through vaginal or anal intercourse. Share on Pinterest It is rare for HSV-2 to transmit through oral sex.