There is no difference between the two physically, and there shouldn't be a difference socially. I don't believe that stigmatizing a disease is the way to go, but I would much rather have "cold sores" demonized along with genital herpes than continue on with the uneven judgement that currently goes on. Admittedly, this is because I'm still really pissed about having some chick's "cold sores" on my vag after my ex messed around with her.
The terms "cold sore" and "fever blister" infuriate me, and we (as a society, not meant as a dig at anyone on this thread) either need to call oral herpes what it is or come up with some cute little euphemism for the genital herp. I have totally had enough of being judged for something I had no part in--yet doctors/pharmacists/friends/ignorant loud people still assume that everyone with an STD is a slutty slutty slut or otherwise did something to deserve it. The guttoral disgust and automatic judgement of people who have genital herpes comes from sex-shaming anyway--it's for the same reasons that STD/STI-free people are referred to as clean* and it's especially worse for women, who aren't supposed to have a healthy (read: fun and possibly even outside of marriage and not only for procreation) sex life to begin with. The judgement comes from a place of sex-negativity, and does nothing to consider people who were lied to, cheated on, raped, infected by people who didn't know, etc etc etc. Ending those negative attitudes would only serve to increase understanding and knowledge of how disease spreads, why it's not all that different from other diseases, and why it's not acceptable to pass judgement on those who have it. Besides, if a child can get oral herpes from an affectionate relative (and pass it to a partner through oral sex later in life... at which point it becomes... gasp... genital herpes), maybe it's time to reconsider just how "terrible" a disease it really is.
That said, NO, I absolutely do not see a difference in disclosing oral vs. genital herpes. It is the exact same virus, only in a different location. It can easily be passed from one location to the other, through oral sex or even by one individual (i.e. touching oral herpes blister, then masturbating/emptying menstrual cup/whatev).
*I realize that this is not a safe-space friendly term, but I have included it for the sake of illustrating the social stigma of STD/STI infections.
no subject
The terms "cold sore" and "fever blister" infuriate me, and we (as a society, not meant as a dig at anyone on this thread) either need to call oral herpes what it is or come up with some cute little euphemism for the genital herp. I have totally had enough of being judged for something I had no part in--yet doctors/pharmacists/friends/ignorant loud people still assume that everyone with an STD is a slutty slutty slut or otherwise did something to deserve it. The guttoral disgust and automatic judgement of people who have genital herpes comes from sex-shaming anyway--it's for the same reasons that STD/STI-free people are referred to as clean* and it's especially worse for women, who aren't supposed to have a healthy (read: fun and possibly even outside of marriage and not only for procreation) sex life to begin with. The judgement comes from a place of sex-negativity, and does nothing to consider people who were lied to, cheated on, raped, infected by people who didn't know, etc etc etc. Ending those negative attitudes would only serve to increase understanding and knowledge of how disease spreads, why it's not all that different from other diseases, and why it's not acceptable to pass judgement on those who have it. Besides, if a child can get oral herpes from an affectionate relative (and pass it to a partner through oral sex later in life... at which point it becomes... gasp... genital herpes), maybe it's time to reconsider just how "terrible" a disease it really is.
That said, NO, I absolutely do not see a difference in disclosing oral vs. genital herpes. It is the exact same virus, only in a different location. It can easily be passed from one location to the other, through oral sex or even by one individual (i.e. touching oral herpes blister, then masturbating/emptying menstrual cup/whatev).
*I realize that this is not a safe-space friendly term, but I have included it for the sake of illustrating the social stigma of STD/STI infections.