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STDs (Expert Forum)
Herpes transmission from being only being licked with tongue
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
Herpes transmission from being only being licked with tongue
by stupidarrs, May 27, 2007 12:00AM
A girl who had cold sores on her lips and chin area licked my penis head with the tip of her tongue, it was never in her mouth, would this be possible to transmit the oral herpes virus to my penis, I do get cold sores now and then so would the antibodies i have to oral herpes 1 make me almost immune to getting oral herpes on my penis, also if i wrestle with someone who has no t-shirt on can i get herpes on my nose if my nose comes into contact with their arms or chest area. I know this is 2 questions but I donate to this site on occasion without asking anything, so I thought it would be ok this one time to a question with 2 parts, I am anxiously awaiting your response. Thanks again for your fine work I also have your great book.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., May 28, 2007 12:00AM
, May 28, 2007 12:00AM
Two-part (or multipart) questions are fine. The rule is against rpeated new threads (max 2 per 6 months), but individual ones often have more than one question.
Most important, since you get cold sores, you already have HSV-1. That makes you immune (or at least highly resistant) to catching a new HSV-1 infection. You're never going to get genital herpes due to HSV-1, regardless of oral sex with partners with oral herpes. Your own facial herpes isn't because you're catching it again from your wrestling opponents; it is because the minor trauma to your nose and face triggers recurrences at those sites. In other words, it is your own infection that pops up again, not new infections from your opponents skin. (The main risk from wrestling is that you can transmit your infection to your opponents bodies, e.g. arms, trunk, neck, etc. That's a well-known problem among wrestling competitors, called 'herpes gladiatorum'. Most high school and university wrestling rules forbid wrestlers with oral herpes to compete when they are having outbreaks.)
But from an STD standpoint, there is no risk to you from HSV-1--even with more standard forms of oral sex, and certainly no significant risk from the tongue-only, light contact that you describe. However, I still would recommend a little common sense; it would still be wise to avoid oral sex if you partner is in the middle of an oral herpes outbreak--just to be completely safe.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Most important, since you get cold sores, you already have HSV-1. That makes you immune (or at least highly resistant) to catching a new HSV-1 infection. You're never going to get genital herpes due to HSV-1, regardless of oral sex with partners with oral herpes. Your own facial herpes isn't because you're catching it again from your wrestling opponents; it is because the minor trauma to your nose and face triggers recurrences at those sites. In other words, it is your own infection that pops up again, not new infections from your opponents skin. (The main risk from wrestling is that you can transmit your infection to your opponents bodies, e.g. arms, trunk, neck, etc. That's a well-known problem among wrestling competitors, called 'herpes gladiatorum'. Most high school and university wrestling rules forbid wrestlers with oral herpes to compete when they are having outbreaks.)
But from an STD standpoint, there is no risk to you from HSV-1--even with more standard forms of oral sex, and certainly no significant risk from the tongue-only, light contact that you describe. However, I still would recommend a little common sense; it would still be wise to avoid oral sex if you partner is in the middle of an oral herpes outbreak--just to be completely safe.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Member Comments (2)
by stupidarrs, May 29, 2007 12:00AM
So I shouldnt even bother with blood tests a few weeks from this incident right? I 'm very relieved to hear that I will never get HSV -1 genitally because I already have Oral herpes(coldsores) thanks again for all your work this site is worth every penny.
by DTMF65, Mar 12, 2008 05:51PM
A related discussion, Herpes from being licked was started.
