It is a disease for life, and thanks for the courage posting. It is (I believe) the most common STD, but people either don't know or don't care that they're spreading it. Another common misconception (at least in my time) is that a cold sore on your mouth could not be spread to the genitals.

So even if you think you're "safe" because yourself or your partner only gets cold sores, you can spread it not only via oral sex, but if you monkey around with the sore on your mouth then go to the bathroom you can spread it to yourself. Granted the chance are slim unless there is an open sore in the genital area, but it can happen.

When I was a CNA, when washing a resident with cold sores a disposable wash cloth was used as not to accidentally spread it.