So herpes simplex virus 1 turns into herpes simplex virus 2 when contacted on genitals?

ok i'm sooo confused because i just dont understand how HSV1 turns into genital herpes (HSV2). let me tell you what i know. HSV1 is cold sores and you get it through people that has it by kissing sharing drinks anything that have touched the person infected. however, when you give oral sex or lets say kissed someone else's genitals while you have the HSV1, how come it automatically switches to HSV2 when that person gets it from you? or is it different? meaning if that person gets genital herpes from HSV1, can you tell the difference if a person gets genital herpes from HSV2? because this is really really serious since researching online, it shows that 85-90% of the population has HSV1 but just dormant or some shows it by having cold sores. if almost everyone has the virus then wouldn't it give a lot of people genital herpes since a lot of people give oral sex/kissing? however not everyone gets genital herpes through HSV1 so this is just confusing.

thank you for all your answers!

thanks so far for the answers, but can you comment on how crazy it is that 85-90% population has the HSV and just by having that virus while giving oral sex it could transfer to someone's genitals and turn into genital herpes. so do you agree that we should NEVER give oral sex unless protected? however, not everybody uses condom/diahprams while doing oral

It doesn't "turn" into herpes simplex virus 2. Both viruses (herpes simplex virus 1 and 2) can cause either cold sores or genital herpes. Typically cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus 1, while genital herpes are caused by herpes simplex virus 2.

So, if someone with cold sores were to give someone oral sex, it can cause them to get genital herpes, because cold sores can cause genital herpes. In fact 30% of people with genital herpes got it from cold sores.

There is no difference between herpes simplex virus 1 or 2. The only difference is, that herpes simplex virus 1 is typically cold sores and herpes simplex virus 2 is typically genital herpes, but both strains can cause either one.

You also don't spread cold sores unless they are present. So you can't pass it to the genital area if they are not present.

I hope that cleared it up a little bit for you!

Could this virus be a poison like arsenic?

Because it's on different parts of the body.

There is no specific "type" of herpes virus that is called "type 1 or type 2" that infects certain parts of the body. The skin on different locations of your body reacts in specific ways to exposure to the virus.

It's the location on the body. Type one oral, type two genital.

Example..

You have a cold sore on your lip, that's type one. You give oral sex to someone who doesn't have herpes. You have exposed them to HSV (it's called type 1 because of the way it was transferred orally). There is no specific strain of type 2 or type 1 Herpes is just that HSV (herpes simplex virus). When they present with sores in the genital area, they now have HSV type 2 because it's the location on the body.

First let me tell you that everyone is born w/ the herpes virus. It actually comes out when the virus becomes activated. And yes if you have a normal cold sore on your mouth and you give a guy oral sex, you can give him herpes on his genitals. I know it sounds crazy but it's true!

Actually, HSV-2 and HSV-1 are different strains of herpes virus. There is no magical shift between viruses upon genital contact. However, HSV-1 and HSV-2 can both infect the oral and genital areas. HSV-2 represents the evolution of HSV-1 to genital mucosa and more likely to recur as the genital herpes on so many commercials these days.

Furthermore, everyone is NOT born with herpes virus. The congenital forms of herpes virus are caught because there is active herpes in a mother at the time of birth. HSV-1 is normally acquired early in childhood and HSV-2 from sexual contact with an infected person.