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Autoinoculation to genitals after transmitting to girlfriend?
I've had herpes gladiatorum for about 5 years on my jawline caused from wrestling.
Unfortunately, 2 weeks ago I spread it to my girlfriend when i performed oral sex on her.
The outbreak was on her vagina and buttocks. Her blisters are now gone but there is some remaining redness.
My question is:
If we have unprotected sex am I at risk of having the herpes spread to my genitals too? I don't know if this would be auto-inoculation as i wouldn't be spreading the herpes to myself but having intercourse with my girlfriend to whom i gave herpes to.
I've never had genital herpes, although i do not know if the HSV on my jawline is HSV 1 or 2 but have been diagnosed visually by a dermatologist and it has recurred a few times every year (it's herpes after all)
Thank you
Unfortunately, 2 weeks ago I spread it to my girlfriend when i performed oral sex on her.
The outbreak was on her vagina and buttocks. Her blisters are now gone but there is some remaining redness.
My question is:
If we have unprotected sex am I at risk of having the herpes spread to my genitals too? I don't know if this would be auto-inoculation as i wouldn't be spreading the herpes to myself but having intercourse with my girlfriend to whom i gave herpes to.
I've never had genital herpes, although i do not know if the HSV on my jawline is HSV 1 or 2 but have been diagnosed visually by a dermatologist and it has recurred a few times every year (it's herpes after all)
Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
We don't examine posted photos on this forum; we don't want to be tempted into making a specific diagnosis, which is not the purpose of an online forum. But from your description, this doesn't sound at all like herpes -- and I have explained why herpes is very unlikely. If your penile symptoms persist, see a doctor about it. In the meantime, stop examining yourself. Anything you have to look hard to see probably is not abnormal. If you were to develop genital herpes someday, you could expect it to look and feel pretty much the same as your outbreaks of facial herpes gladiatorum.
I look forward to hearing more about your partner's infection etc. Until then, I won't have any further advice.
I look forward to hearing more about your partner's infection etc. Until then, I won't have any further advice.
Doctor i have just checked my penis in the bathroom before knowing you had responded to my question. I was concerned by my fever and feeling of illness and see now there is a small blister like rash on my penis, im experiencing itching in the urethra where this rash is on my shaft... the rash itself isnt particularly itchy or red just small white blisters. Is there any way of uploading a picture?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I doubt these symptoms are due to herpes or any other STD.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
I'm sorry to hear you infected your partner. Were you having an outbreak of your herpes gladiatorum at the time you performed oral sex on your partner? Was her diagnosis confirmed by lab testing? What virus type was the cause? Finally, are you sure you were the only possible source? Is it possible she was sexually exposed to anyone else in the 2-3 weeks before her symptoms started?
The large majority of herpes gladiatorum is due to HSV-1. However, HSV-2 is theoretically possible. I strongly suggest you have tests to learn which type you have. This is best done by swabbing a lesion when you're having a facial herpes outbreak; the virus can easily be typed as HSV-1 or 2. Alternatively, you could have a blood test to check for antibodies to both virus types. In addition, your partner's new herpes should have been tested to determine whether she has HSV-1 or 2, which would have to be the same type you have.
The rest of this reply assumes you have a typical case of herpes gladiatorum, i.e. that you are infected with HSV-1.
There is no risk to you for genital herpes in this situation. Most auto-inoculation occurs during someone's initial HSV infection, but not from recurrent herpes outbreaks. Had you touched your herpes gladiatorum lesions during the initial outbreak, then your genital area, you could have autoinoculated yourself. But not once you had been infected for 3 months or more. This is because people with HSV are immune, or at least highly resistant, to new infections with the same virus type, anywhere on the body.
The same applies to exposure to other infected persons. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely you will ever catch HSV-1 of your genital area, either from a sex partner or from autoinoculation; even with oral sex, it is unlikely your partner will transmit HSV-1 to your genital area.
That said, neither of you should take dumb risks. Even though the risk of new infection is low, and partners virtually never "ping pong" their HSV infections back and forth, it would be wise for you and your partner to avoid contact when having an obvious outbreak.
So you need not worry about getting a genital infection with the virus you already are carrying. But I strongly recommend you follow through with testing to determine what virus type you have. In the meantime, I'll be interested in the answers to my questions about your partner's infection.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I'm sorry to hear you infected your partner. Were you having an outbreak of your herpes gladiatorum at the time you performed oral sex on your partner? Was her diagnosis confirmed by lab testing? What virus type was the cause? Finally, are you sure you were the only possible source? Is it possible she was sexually exposed to anyone else in the 2-3 weeks before her symptoms started?
The large majority of herpes gladiatorum is due to HSV-1. However, HSV-2 is theoretically possible. I strongly suggest you have tests to learn which type you have. This is best done by swabbing a lesion when you're having a facial herpes outbreak; the virus can easily be typed as HSV-1 or 2. Alternatively, you could have a blood test to check for antibodies to both virus types. In addition, your partner's new herpes should have been tested to determine whether she has HSV-1 or 2, which would have to be the same type you have.
The rest of this reply assumes you have a typical case of herpes gladiatorum, i.e. that you are infected with HSV-1.
There is no risk to you for genital herpes in this situation. Most auto-inoculation occurs during someone's initial HSV infection, but not from recurrent herpes outbreaks. Had you touched your herpes gladiatorum lesions during the initial outbreak, then your genital area, you could have autoinoculated yourself. But not once you had been infected for 3 months or more. This is because people with HSV are immune, or at least highly resistant, to new infections with the same virus type, anywhere on the body.
The same applies to exposure to other infected persons. Therefore, it is extremely unlikely you will ever catch HSV-1 of your genital area, either from a sex partner or from autoinoculation; even with oral sex, it is unlikely your partner will transmit HSV-1 to your genital area.
That said, neither of you should take dumb risks. Even though the risk of new infection is low, and partners virtually never "ping pong" their HSV infections back and forth, it would be wise for you and your partner to avoid contact when having an obvious outbreak.
So you need not worry about getting a genital infection with the virus you already are carrying. But I strongly recommend you follow through with testing to determine what virus type you have. In the meantime, I'll be interested in the answers to my questions about your partner's infection.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
to add to this we had sex a couple of days ago and today i have a low grade fever, feel slightly rundown and woke up with a penis itch but It has been on my mind a lot so perhaps overly concerned?
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
