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Avatar universal

Herpes I as an STD/transmission

Your forum has helped me immensely and the information and reassurance you provide is amazing. I know this may be an unusual concern and I greatly appreciate your patience, so please read on.

I am female of child bearing age, tested negative in February '07 for Herpes types I and II, which was  5 months after the last time I kissed anyone on the mouth. I'm worried about getting herpes I genitally now that I know I don't have the protective antibodies.
Questions:
1) In July, I dated a man who kissed my cheek and neck with kind of sloppy-saliva wet kisses. I then noticed he had what may have been a pimple or red area over his lip. He doesn't know if he's had oral herpes ever. Soon thereafter I showered (maybe 5-10 minutes later). I realized and felt the water wash down from my neck and went to my gential and labial area.  Is it possible that the herpes virus from his lips or saliva could go via the plain water to my genitals and infect me genitally that way?

2) The same week, a librarian at work who I have seen with large oral herpes sores spit while talking and it hit my lip- don't know if she had a herpes sore then. I know oral herpes is not an STD, but I'm worried about getting it genitally before I might get it orally- I know once a person has antibodies to herpes type I (likely oral) they are highly resistent to repeat infection elsehere on the body.  Could I get oral herpes from her saliva hitting my lip that way or from anyone else who I interact with in general who might accidentally spit while talking and it hits my lips?

3) Are antibodies to herpes I protective at birthing delivery even if there are herpes type I genital sores (you've already explained on the forum that herpes type I doesn't usually recur genitally as frequently as type II)?
7 Responses
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Avatar universal
Thanks again doc, I realize and understood that you explained I don't have HSV now, but my question for autoinnoculation was for in the future, if I kiss someone on the mouth and get an oral herpes cold sore, then I meant what precautions would be smart to take for a few months to avoid autoinnoculation to my own genital area, i.e. how easy/hard to transfer to myself since I'm not having oral sex. Thanks for understanding me.
Helpful - 0
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You apparently still don't understand.  Autoinoculation means transfer of a person's own HSV infection to a new part of his or her body.  You don't have HSV, therefore you have nothing to autoinoculate.

For practical purposes, household members of people with HSV (either HSV-1 or HSV-2) never get infected if they don't kiss or have sex with the other person.  You are not at risk. Forget it.

No more comments by anybody, please.  This thread is over.
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Avatar universal
The virus needs skin-to-skin contact.  Maybe (in theory) you could "collect" enough of the virus onto a towel.  Then, if you immediately "massaged" the virus into the genital region, auto-inoculation would be possible. HOWEVER, it has probably never happened (assuming it's even possible).  Think about it:  millions of people use one towel; 50% of them at one point initially acquired HSV-1; and of those very FEW who auto-inoculated another area (eye/genital) probably none of them transferred the virus via a towel (or else a significant number of people would have experienced such an auto-inoculation).

Bottom line:  if it makes you feel better, use separate towels.  But since you don't have HSV-1 or HSV-2 you're probably doing more laundry than you should be doing.

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Avatar universal
Dear Doctor,
Thanks for your prompt reply. But if autoinnoculation is positive when newly exposed i.e. initial/primary exposure to oral herpes from oral kissing on the mouth only, how can I prevent myself from autoinnoculating to my genitals since I obviously can't kiss my own genitals? Should I use a separate face and body towel to dry off after a shower? Is it only possible to autoinnoculate if I actually touch my mouth over a lesion and then wipe or touch my vagina/labia/groin area? I assume also this is only for the first 3-4 months after an initial oral blister/lesion until I'd develop antibodies-right?

Again, thanks.
Helpful - 0
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Wow, you're really over-thinking this.  Herpes isn't so easily transmitted.  And most cases just aren't worth the worry you are putting into it, especially for HSV-1.  Half the population has it.  Would it be such a big deal if you joined that half of your fellow citizens?  To your questions:

1) The indirect route you describe (water in a shower washing virus from your skin to your genitals) is not a possible route of transmission.  

2) You only get HSV from immediate, direct contact.  If your kissing partner had oral herpes, that exposure could have infected you on the face, neck, etc.  You can't catch herpes from casual, non-kissing contact with librarians or anyone else.

3) Question 3 is irrelevant since you don't have any antibodies to HSV-1.  If you have a baby, s/he will be fully susceptible to HSV-1 or HSV-2 if exposed to it.  If or when you get pregnant, your obstetrician can re-test you at that time.  If you remain antibody negative, it will be important for you avoid any risk of genital infection during the last 3 months of pregnancy--i.e., no genital sex with persons with possible HSV-2 infection, and no receiving oral sex from someone with possible oral herpes.  Otherwise, don't worry about it.

4) Yes, auto-inoculation is possible before antibodies develop.  That is exactly when auto-inoculation usually occurs, i.e. during a person's first infection with HSV-1 or HSV-2.

5) I see no reason for you to be retested unless/until you develop symptoms that suggest you have caught herpes.

Mellow out.  Just take common-sense precautions, especially with your sex partners.  Otherwise just forget herpes; it's not an important issue for you.  Best wishes--

HHH, MD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I mean- retest now as a baseline (3 weeks after the kiss) so if I got herpes orally somehow i'll know it's not from the July incident?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Meant to ask: if you get oral herpes can you autoinnoculate to the genitals before developing antibodies just by using same towel on your face and genital area?  
I consider getting retested in 3 months, but then I won't know if it's oral/genital from these incidents?
Helpful - 0

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