Oral herpes spread capabilities

Dr,
First off it is important to note that I was most likely exposed to genital herpes and developed a lot of anxiety during my waiting period for a conclusive test. My test for type 2 herpes was negative and I am finally convinced I do not have it. I did however test positive for type 1 herpes antibodies although I have never had any legit oral or genital herpes symptoms. While doing research on the subject during my waiting period (too much for my own good I think), I learned that sometimes herpes can shed through the skin and be noted only by a burning, tingling sensation. I touched my mouth to put in a tobacco chew (which is rare for me) and felt such a sensation on my face outside next to the corner of my lips a few minutes after. The sensation was not do to the chew because I felt it off and on for days after. I urinated about 10 minutes afterwards and started to have worries that I possibly spread herpes from my mouth to my penis. After a few days of worrying I deduced that the sensation I felt was most likely acne and I began to realize I was probably blowing things way out of proportion. The sensation seems to be on the face next to the lips, not really the lips. Still, because I worried about it I am interested in information about how easy it is to spread oral herpes to genitals in symptomatic and asymptomatic situations. Also can herpes be on the face without being on the lips?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Not easy at all.  If it were, imagine how many people with cold sores would have herpes on their genitals too.  In fact, once you have herpes in one place, you can't spread it elsewhere on the body, because antibodies prevent the herpes from setting up shop elsewhere.  These sensations sound psychological to me.  I'd ignore 'em.

Dr. Rockoff

[skier2413]

To be more specific, I was asking about how easy it is to spread type one oral herpes to genitals on oneself (as in my current situation of worry) and to others, both symptomatic and asymptomatic. Thanks.

[JustLooking]

Dear DR. RockOff,

I have heard of people with genital herpes say that the herpes sores appear in different areas moving around the genital area.   Is this because the area has the same nerve ganglia.  

For example, is it possible to get herpes infection on the head of the penis on one outbreak and later get it on the scotum?  

Another example, is it possible to get it on the labia for woman for one outbreak, then another outbreak get it near the anus?

Are these examples bogus?  From what you are telling me, if one has antibodies, one can neither spread the herpes at all to one self.  This means, herpes can not setup shop in the genitals if they have it already in the mouth, since antibodies are already present for that herpes type.  

Can you confirm this?