There are two primary forms of the herpes simplex virus, herpes type I and herpes type II.
Herpes simplex type I occurs primarily in and around the mouth and is more commonly referred to as oral herpes or cold sores.
Herpes simplex type II, or genital herpes - occurs primarily below the waist line.
Although it is called genital herpes, it is not restricted to just the genital area, but literally anywhere below the waist.
This can include your lower back, pelvis, inner thighs and buttocks.
When a person realizes that the blister that they have on their lip that they once thought was a harmless sign of the changing seasons is actually herpes type I, one of the first questions they is whether or not they can pass it on genitally to their partner.
The very short answer to this question is, yes - you absolutely can pass on oral herpes to the genital area.
Herpes simplex virus is transmitted by skin to skin contact through the mucous membranes.
If you have an oral herpes outbreak and perform oral sex on your partner you can pass your herpes to them.
When this happens, they will have genital herpes.
Just like herpes type II, herpes type I outbreaks can be difficult to identify.
Sometimes they look really bad like puss-filled blisters then there are other times when they look like simple pimples.
Just as with genital HSV, if you think you are having an outbreak on your mouth, it is best to refrain from any sexual contact - including kissing.