Very worried

[Ladybugs123]

Hi- new to this site and it seems to be filled with slot of information. I was out with with friends last evening and met a 29 year old guy. After a few drinks things were going good and about to make moves and he told me he had genital herpes since he was 24. We did not have sex but I did give him a handjob and he said he did not have a outbreak. I did not wash my hands after and smoked a cigerrette obviously touching the end of the smoke into my mouth. Can his herpes spread from his penis to my hand to my mouth? Is it safe to give him oral sex is I don't have herpes?

[alextom1]

Ah.. sorry about that. .. I put "you" instead of your partner... Proof reading is fundamental I guess.. The general message still stands though.. and it's not my website at all.. A friend of mine told me about it. Just thought to spread the word. It would at least help your friend out and help reduce your risk as well. Of course condoms would work as well.. Of course, I'm no expert. Just showing some positive support on the board. I know how stressful a time like this can be on any relationship. Half the battle is knowing what works for others and getting proper treatment.. thanks again

[Life360_Dave]

Touching is really not any risk. Its a sexually transmitted infection where the genitals need to be in contact. Its a ganglion contact issue. The bigger risk would be to give him oral sex without a condom. If hes taking antivirals and using condoms would greatly your risk.

[Ladybugs123]

All that guy is trying to sell is a website, he said on side of shaft I asked him. I guess how contagious is this to me if I touch him? Certain cautious I should take after touching him?

[Life360_Dave]

Its about him having herpes not her!

[Life360_Dave]

Not yet for either, just been answering these type of questions here daily for 2 years.

[Ladybugs123]

Ok thank you I will try to find out help clear things up a little more. You seem to know alot about this? Are you a doctor or do you have genital herpes?

[Life360_Dave]

there are 2 types of herpes that plague us for the most part, one is hsv1 which is considered most often oral (cold sores on the lips as a child) and hsv2 with is in the genital area. Hsv2 prefers the genital ganglion so getting it in your oral is low risk from giving him oral sex.
Shedding for hsv2 genital (meaning the virus is on the skin surface without a visible sore) occurs 15-30% of the time where no sore is there so it is quite often so even with condom use the virus could be anywhere below the waist area and you could contact it if you below waist area came into contact with it like your public mound area. And if you give him oral sex without a condom you are at risk of getting it orally.

Find out where he has breakouts as most occur in the same area and avoid being in contact there.

[Ladybugs123]

Just text him he said hsv2 whatever that means. How does that shed and how often? What do you mean being contagious should not be from these areas? I guess I'm worried that touching his penis I'm going to get it on my hand and spread to my eyes, mouth, and even read one article that someone touched had genital herpes touched the area then touched their cell phone an claims they spread it to there brother because he then touched the cell phone and took out his contacts.

[Life360_Dave]

Touching with your fingers is really not an issue as needs to be some rubbing and grinding to force the virus into the skin and more over, it needs to be a nerve ganglion. We have 2, one is from below the waist and the other is from about the nipple up. Being contageous would be have contact with these areas of your body. As mentioned you need to find out if he has hsv1 or 2 as the rate of shedding varies.

[Ladybugs123]

I did ask him how he did get it and he said it was from genital to genital contact. I guess I want to know how contagious is he to me? I've read a little about it and I see something about shedding? People say to be careful after touching his penis because it can spread to me or other things? Is this true?