Could I possibly just be OCD?

[hunter_123]

I caught (what I believe to be) HSV 1 when I was on vacation. The story is interesting: We were at an amusement park and my brother handed me some carmex lip balm with I thought he offered me because of my dried lips. Little did I know, he took up the lip balm from a chair right behind us and thought it was actually mine, when it probably belonged to a stranger. I know I probably shouldn't even be using anyone else's lip balm but I was young. That was the day my first ever outbreak occurred and it was mortifying and at its most severe. That was a few years ago.

Ever since then, recurrence has happened twice, one of which I am experiencing at the very moment I write this. Since I'm older (16 years old) I have become more aware of such viruses. Again, I haven't medically confirmed whether I have HSV 1 or 2 but I believe it's the first type, since I've only had outbreaks on the outside my lips, and I'm not sexually active in terms of oral sex and intercourse.

Back to what I was saying, I've become extremely cautious with this outbreak, mostly because I'm extremely scared that it will spread from my mouth to my genitals. For example, what if I'm showering and the water makes contact with the cold sore and that same water flows on my genitals? I think I read somewhere that antibodies most likely have developed in my body and would prevent the HSV from spreading to other areas of the body, but I think I need some reassurance through a proper explanation! This might be a little personal and I really wanted to share this with someone, but I think the reason that I'm very concerned about my genital area as well is because I recently began masturbating (just a few days ago) and began to wonder to myself, what if I actually have herpes 'down there' and I accidentally spread it to my mouth, causing the recent outbreak? It would be logical timing, since the cold sore appeared today. Maybe it's just the OCD finding excuses, I don't know. I just really need some advice and reassurance. I'm not comfortable talking about this with my mother and my father isn't alive to give me the advice that I want to hear.

Please don't laugh at me. I need answers from people who have either some sort of knowledge of the virus or have had similar concerns.

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, if you infact have hsv1 oral, which many people do as was acquired at childhood, transferring it to your genital area from what you describe would be close to zero risk for many reasons. One is the antibodies, two is that hsv1 perfers the oral area and three there needs to be some direct friction rubbing to force the virus into the nerve.
Most that have hsv in both oral and genital contracted it about the same time.

[hunter_123]

What do you mean 'contracted it about the same time'?

[Life360_Dave]

Meaning a person was exposed both oral and genital at the same time where they did not have antibodies to help prevent getting it in 2 different areas.

[hunter_123]

Oh I see. And one more thing, and sorry again if this gets a bit personal but if during the time which the cold sore was developing I used my saliva as a lubricant for masturbating, can the virus be spread to my genitalia?