Oral sex carries a significant risk of transmitting genital HSV-1
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 87/100
Oral sex is a well-documented transmission route for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to the genital tract, with studies showing that HSV-1 now accounts for a substantial proportion of new genital herpes cases globally.
Evidence for · 3
Estimated global and regional incidence and prevalence of herpes simplex virus infections and genital ulcer disease in 2020: mathematical modelling analyses
2024 · cited by 74
Mathematical modeling analyses show millions of new genital HSV-1 infections occurring globally, highlighting substantial transmission.
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More for · 2
Epidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the United States: Systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions
2024 · cited by 20
Systematic reviews document that genital acquisition of HSV-1 has increased significantly over time.
Developments in genital herpes: progress in prevention and treatment.
2026 · cited by 1
Recent literature notes that HSV-1 now accounts for a large proportion of new genital herpes infections globally, largely driven by changing sexual practices such as oral sex.