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Fingering?
Hello. :) My ex-boyfriend has HSV-2 and is currently having an outbreak that has lasted for almost a month. It is on the tip of his penis under the head and is very dry and flaky. The reason I am asking this question is because I know for a fact that he has a habit of touching/scratching his outbreaks.
The other night we were fooling around and he started to finger me. This lasted for a food ten to fifteen minutes before it was over. I remember him going to the bathroom a few hours beforehand. I have no idea if he washed his hands but I'm going to assume he didn't. I have yet to have any symptoms (3 days) but am very worried. Three questions.
1) Can genital herpes be spread if he touched his penis/the outbreak then touched me a while later?
2) We were both relaxing for about half an hour before he started to finger me. If he DID touch his outbreak during anytime that day, would there still be enough of the virus present on his fingers to transmit it?
3) Does a herpes outbreak usually last as long as four weeks? He has had the virus for years now and that just seems odd to me.
4) Would you recommend testing?
I am very worried and would very much apprechiate any answers.
The other night we were fooling around and he started to finger me. This lasted for a food ten to fifteen minutes before it was over. I remember him going to the bathroom a few hours beforehand. I have no idea if he washed his hands but I'm going to assume he didn't. I have yet to have any symptoms (3 days) but am very worried. Three questions.
1) Can genital herpes be spread if he touched his penis/the outbreak then touched me a while later?
2) We were both relaxing for about half an hour before he started to finger me. If he DID touch his outbreak during anytime that day, would there still be enough of the virus present on his fingers to transmit it?
3) Does a herpes outbreak usually last as long as four weeks? He has had the virus for years now and that just seems odd to me.
4) Would you recommend testing?
I am very worried and would very much apprechiate any answers.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Probably a pimple or folliculitis (hair follicle infection). An initial outbreak of herpes rarely has only one lesion and it rarely happens in the pubic area; mostly on the genitls per se (labia, vaginal opening, etc).
See a health care provider if you remain concerned. But you're going to ahve to learn how herpes behaves and, if you're going to continue with a relationship with someone with genital herpes, you just have to be prepared to possibly get infected someday.
This will be the last comment on this thread -- and please do not start a new one about this situation either.
See a health care provider if you remain concerned. But you're going to ahve to learn how herpes behaves and, if you're going to continue with a relationship with someone with genital herpes, you just have to be prepared to possibly get infected someday.
This will be the last comment on this thread -- and please do not start a new one about this situation either.
Dr. today, exactly two weeks after the exposure I described I found a bump in the pubic hair just outside of my vaginal opening. I am trying my best not to panic but my hands are shaking as I type this. It's twelve in the morning and I just called my ex to drive me to the emergency room but I wanted your opinion, as well.
Like I said, it's just outside of my vaginal opening mixed in with the pubic hair and it's BIG. A little bit larger than a pencil eraser. I tried so hard not to squeeze it but couldn't help myself and a puss came out, I don't remember what color, followed by a little blood. Whenever I squeeze it, a little dab of blood comes out, again. It is the same color as my skin. I wish I could describe it better.
It is absolutely painless. Even when I squeeze it. I have not shaved this area recently at all and the only reason I noticed it was because I found it by accident when popping a much smaller pimple on my inner butt cheek
What does this sound like to you?
Like I said, it's just outside of my vaginal opening mixed in with the pubic hair and it's BIG. A little bit larger than a pencil eraser. I tried so hard not to squeeze it but couldn't help myself and a puss came out, I don't remember what color, followed by a little blood. Whenever I squeeze it, a little dab of blood comes out, again. It is the same color as my skin. I wish I could describe it better.
It is absolutely painless. Even when I squeeze it. I have not shaved this area recently at all and the only reason I noticed it was because I found it by accident when popping a much smaller pimple on my inner butt cheek
What does this sound like to you?
I will definitely check out those sites. Dr. Handsfield I really appreciate your in-depth responses. All the best. :)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sorry, I should have been more clear about that.
Even if his penile rash was an active herpes outbreak, my replies would be the same. Could it happen? Probably yes, and it might be responsible for a tiny minority of genital herpes infections. But it's too rare to worry about. The sort of contact you describe of course is extremely common, yet in 30+ years in a busy STD clinic, I have never seen a patient with genital herpes who had not had vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person.
The presence of an outbreak doesn't make as much difference as you might think. Asymptomatic shedding (i.e., when the virus is present without a known outbreak) occurs in everybody with HSV-2. In fact, that is usually when herpes is transmitted -- i.e. without an outbreak.
Your question suggests your partner is your ex, but apparently you haven't had sex. But you are considering it. Congratulations on your level headed approach; it sounds like you are thinking it through and not letting your emotions get you into the sack without careful consideration. That bodes well for your sexual health now and in the future.
If you see this as a likely long term, committed relationship, herpes probably should not be a major worry. Nobody wants to get it, but it's not a serious enough problem to let it interfere with romance and commitment -- and treatment is available to minimize the disease if you catch it. However, if you're not sure about the long term, you definitely should take precautions against infection, i.e. to avoid sex during an outbreak (which obvious only helps a little, as I already discussed), consider consistent condom use, and/or have your partner take an anti-herpes drug every day, called suppressive therapy. Also, if you decide to start having intercourse with this guy, you still need a blood test for HSV-2. Unless you are a virgin, you might already be infected and not know it, and a blood test would tell whether or not you need to take precautions to avoid HSV-2 infection.
For excellent information on preventing genital herpes, visit the MedHelp herpes community forum, and look at some good websites: www.ashastd.org, www.westoverheights.com, and www.cdc.gov/std.
Even if his penile rash was an active herpes outbreak, my replies would be the same. Could it happen? Probably yes, and it might be responsible for a tiny minority of genital herpes infections. But it's too rare to worry about. The sort of contact you describe of course is extremely common, yet in 30+ years in a busy STD clinic, I have never seen a patient with genital herpes who had not had vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person.
The presence of an outbreak doesn't make as much difference as you might think. Asymptomatic shedding (i.e., when the virus is present without a known outbreak) occurs in everybody with HSV-2. In fact, that is usually when herpes is transmitted -- i.e. without an outbreak.
Your question suggests your partner is your ex, but apparently you haven't had sex. But you are considering it. Congratulations on your level headed approach; it sounds like you are thinking it through and not letting your emotions get you into the sack without careful consideration. That bodes well for your sexual health now and in the future.
If you see this as a likely long term, committed relationship, herpes probably should not be a major worry. Nobody wants to get it, but it's not a serious enough problem to let it interfere with romance and commitment -- and treatment is available to minimize the disease if you catch it. However, if you're not sure about the long term, you definitely should take precautions against infection, i.e. to avoid sex during an outbreak (which obvious only helps a little, as I already discussed), consider consistent condom use, and/or have your partner take an anti-herpes drug every day, called suppressive therapy. Also, if you decide to start having intercourse with this guy, you still need a blood test for HSV-2. Unless you are a virgin, you might already be infected and not know it, and a blood test would tell whether or not you need to take precautions to avoid HSV-2 infection.
For excellent information on preventing genital herpes, visit the MedHelp herpes community forum, and look at some good websites: www.ashastd.org, www.westoverheights.com, and www.cdc.gov/std.
He definitely does have genital herpes that has been confirmed with a swab and blood test in the military. I don't mean to be that poster who asks a million questions but I just want to clarify one thing.
I understand that you do not believe this is a herpes outbreak which is a relief. I would like to know however if all of your above answers would still be the same if this really WAS a herpes outbreak and he touched it before touching me? I'm just not positive if you gave your answers based on the fact that you don't believe this is a herpes outbreak or if you gave them as an all around answer because I'm curious to know either way. We have not had sex yet and I'd like to learn as much as I can.
Thank you so much! Muah!
I understand that you do not believe this is a herpes outbreak which is a relief. I would like to know however if all of your above answers would still be the same if this really WAS a herpes outbreak and he touched it before touching me? I'm just not positive if you gave your answers based on the fact that you don't believe this is a herpes outbreak or if you gave them as an all around answer because I'm curious to know either way. We have not had sex yet and I'd like to learn as much as I can.
Thank you so much! Muah!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
Almost certainly your something other than herpes is the cause of you ex-partner's current symptoms. Herpes doesn't cause flaking and no outbreak ever lasts a month; 1-2 weeks is typical. I'm not saying he doesn't have genital herpes, but if so, this probably is a separate problem, like a fungal infection or other kind of dermatitis. He should see his health care provider about it.
If your partner has recurrent genital herpes, regardless of his current symptoms, then there still is no significant worry about transmission from the exposures you describe. Herpes is rarely if ever transmitted by fingering -- even if he had touched his penis immediately before touching you. There definitely is no risk from self-contact seveal hours earlier.
So the direct answers are: 1) No. 2) No. 3) No; you are correct to consider such prolonged symptoms to be "odd".
4) The last question is more complicated. You certainly do not need testing for herpes based on this particular exposure. But presumably when your relationship was a going thing, you had unprotected sex with him, probably a lot; and he has had genital herpes "for years" (or at least believes he has). If so, there's a good chance you are infected already, whether or not you have had symptoms of genital herpes. I recommend you see a health care provider and request a blood test for HSV-2. But testing isn't necessary if you and he never had unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse.
Bottom line: a) Don't worry about this exposure. b) But still get tested for HSV-2 if you and your partner had unprotected sex in the past. c) Suggest to your ex-BF he see a health care provider to learn the real cause of his penile rash.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Almost certainly your something other than herpes is the cause of you ex-partner's current symptoms. Herpes doesn't cause flaking and no outbreak ever lasts a month; 1-2 weeks is typical. I'm not saying he doesn't have genital herpes, but if so, this probably is a separate problem, like a fungal infection or other kind of dermatitis. He should see his health care provider about it.
If your partner has recurrent genital herpes, regardless of his current symptoms, then there still is no significant worry about transmission from the exposures you describe. Herpes is rarely if ever transmitted by fingering -- even if he had touched his penis immediately before touching you. There definitely is no risk from self-contact seveal hours earlier.
So the direct answers are: 1) No. 2) No. 3) No; you are correct to consider such prolonged symptoms to be "odd".
4) The last question is more complicated. You certainly do not need testing for herpes based on this particular exposure. But presumably when your relationship was a going thing, you had unprotected sex with him, probably a lot; and he has had genital herpes "for years" (or at least believes he has). If so, there's a good chance you are infected already, whether or not you have had symptoms of genital herpes. I recommend you see a health care provider and request a blood test for HSV-2. But testing isn't necessary if you and he never had unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse.
Bottom line: a) Don't worry about this exposure. b) But still get tested for HSV-2 if you and your partner had unprotected sex in the past. c) Suggest to your ex-BF he see a health care provider to learn the real cause of his penile rash.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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.
