Trouble with bathing

Would like to make some enquires. Always wondering if, when taking a shower sometimes will urine or will have menstrual blood and it will flow down with the water to my legs. Recently I've scratched my leg and both sides is sore. Is anyone out there experiencing the same thing too?

[gracefromHHP]

you won't spread herpes down your legs from this.

see your provider if your legs continue to be sore.

grace

[Jessicatan]

Will the virus be able to enter the sores by the little presence of urine or blood? My legs are recovering just the normal spots from scratching.

[petal130]

Grace already answered this - NO - you will not transmit your own herpes to yourself this way.

Become educated about your genital herpes here:
http://www.westoverheights.com/genital_herpes/handbook/view_the_chapters.html

[Jessicatan]

I think the problem with you professional guys here is that you don't understand what others are going through/how afraid they are to affect their loved ones rather than self infecting themselves. Speaking about these articles, I've read countless of them. Please ask yourself what are these medical forums for if those webpages can answer my questions. Do you even know what's complications? If you don't have the patience then don't bother to reply thanks.

[petal130]

I have genital herpes, as does Grace. It is what is is - an occasional outbreak that is at worst a nuisance; nothing more.

The internet can inform and mislead. Consider the source and facts. What you describe is in fact not a risk, plain and simple.

"Complications" with herpes are rare, plain and simple. It's safe to say that the 60%+ of the population that has herpes is not a walking biohazard, nor dealing with anything but mostly no symptoms to at times pesky cold sores. Same for genital herpes.

Autoinoculation is rare as well. You can read this post from Dr. Hook, and many others by herpes experts: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Auto-Inoculation/show/1364734

[gracefromHHP]

the virus is  poorly transmitted through body fluids in general.  You also already have the virus in the entire sacral nerve ganglia anyways so you wouldn't spread it to your lower legs - it's already there!

It's not that we don't understand your fears/anxiety about the virus, it's that I try to keep the replies as simple as possible so I don't over load you with the science behind herpes. I've found over the years that keeping it simple in general keeps folks from getting even more confused :)  this also is all volunteer for all of us so giving a full science lesson in every post isn't really necessary either.

whatever is going on, it has absolutely nothing to do with you scratching your legs and your herpes. see your provider if you are concerned.

[Jessicatan]

Thanks. But maybecos I just need some answers that can convince me. Maybe explaining why it wouldnt spread may help. :) btw what you meant that there some thing alr there on my legs?

[Jessicatan]

I know it isn't easy to spread but still there may be risks.. Cos I scratched till the extend it was sore then afraid that while bathing and urinating etc may flow pass the sores. Hope you guys understand

[gracefromHHP]

no there aren't any risks to this from your herpes.

when you were infected with genital herpes, it infected the entire sacral nerve ganglia which are the nerves that supply your legs too. The nerves in your legs are already infected with herpes and you won't make it "worse" or anything .

[Jessicatan]

Can I know more about the nerve thingy you were mentioning? I know the virus is all over the body is it the same concept you were saying since it's there it doesn't makes any diff but it wouldn't infect the legs right?

[Jessicatan]

And another thing that has been bothering me. Let's say if I am having menstruation and bathing (washing my genital areas), what happens if the water splash into my eyes? And how about sometimes when we urinate, may have some splash back and sometimes hits on my legs. What if there's a sore there? Lastly, if my friend has Hsv 1 should I be afraid of standing near to her in case her saliva spits into my eyes? Sorry no offense.

[gracefromHHP]

water splashing into your eyes also is not a risk.

you are not a walking biohazard dear!!!!

[Jessicatan]

Cos I thought our eyes can be infected easily.

[gracefromHHP]

not really. usually it's children that get it, not adults. It's usually in adults hsv1 orally that migrates up the facial nerves into the eye area anyways, not autoinnoculation.

[Jessicatan]

Ok thanks :)