Q: If I have oral herpes and if I kiss my girlfriend on her thighs, buttock, and abdominal area, can she get infection of genital herpes? Does semen and pre-cum contain the virus of genital herpes and oral herpes?

A:Herpes simplex virus is of two types - type I and type II. Oral herpes used to be due to type I and genital due to type II. However with the change in sexual practices, both types can produce illness at either site. Shedding of virus is maximal from ulcers. However, it can also be shed from an intact surface, though in lesser numbers. It is known to be transmitted through mucosal secretions. Therefore one can not exclude the possible presence of this virus in semen etc.