If you have oral HSV-1 and currently have no outbreaks or visible symptoms, the risk of transmitting the virus to someone else through kissing or making out is lower, but not entirely eliminated. This...

As an STD assistant, it's important to know that herpes can still be transmitted even when there are no visible outbreaks. This is because the virus can shed asymptomatically at times without any signs of sores or blisters. Therefore, making out with someone when you have herpes but no active symptoms still carries a risk of transmission.

It’s advisable to inform your partner about your status and together make informed decisions on how best to protect each other from potential exposure. Using barrier methods like condoms or dental dams during intimate contact can help reduce the risk, although they do not provide complete protection against herpes due to viral shedding.

Ultimately, open communication and mutual understanding between partners play a crucial role in managing risks associated with Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) transmission.