Can I infect myself

[seekinganswers]

I have had cold sores since I was a kid. I was always under the impression that I could transfer this kind of oral herpes to my genital area so I always been extemely careful since I did not want any kind of genital herpes. My GP says this is true, however my gynocologist recently told me this was not true. That since I had built up the anitbodies I could not re-infect myself in another area of my body.  Can you confirm which is correct?

I was worried because I recently am having a strange genital reaction where the entire area got flushed and heated. There was some itching and tingling. A few small red bumps/pimples mostly on my buttocks but no lesions of any kind. The gynocologist did not know what is was but is treating for a yeast infection. She said it was not herpes ... of course I am still worried I infected myself accidently - does it sound like it?

Thanks

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

No.  Your GYN is correct.  If people could infect other sites with herpes, then everyone would be covered with herpes just from washing.  Antibodies in your bloodstream don't prevent recurrence in the same place, but they do stop herpes from setting up shop elsewhere.  Whatever you have in your groin must be something other than herpes.  If your gynecologist can't rid you of it, perhaps a visit to a dermatologist might be useful.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[HHH,MD]

You also asked this question on the STD Forum.  Here is the response I gave there:

Your gynecologist is right, your GP is wrong.  Self-transmission of herpes to a second site on the body is called autoinoculation.  It occurs from time to time during initial HSV infections, before the immune system kicks in.  For example, during initial oral or genital herpes, HSV sometimes causes a lesion of the finger (herpetic whitlow) or can be transmitted to the eye (herpetic keratitis).  But once the infection has been established for a few weeks, autoinoculation is extremely rare, if it occurs at all.

I can't compete with the diagnosis of a gynecologist who actually has examined you; the yeast diagnosis probably is correct.  If it is herpes, you didn't acquire it from your own oral infection.  In any case, 1 day after exposure is too soon for herpes symptoms to appear, but yeast may first be noticed soon after sex.

I'm pretty sure you'll get a similar response from Dr. Rockoff on the dermatology forum.  Let both of us know if our replies disagree with one another.

Good luck--  HHH, MD (MedHelp STD Forum)