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STDs (Expert Forum)
What are the Risk I May develop Herpes
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
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.
What are the Risk I May develop Herpes
by tonyayo, Sep 23, 2008 12:35PM
First I would like to thank you for all the helpful advice you provide on this fourm. I had sex yesterday...protected orally and vaginally with an escort. There was no direct contact between her genital area and mine. I did not notice any lesions on the outside of her body but they very well could have been on the inside. When I pulled out of her after having climxed I saw something in her that looked white. I am not sure what is was but think she may have been on her menstrual and that could have been a tampon or some device. I later quized her about her STD status and she said she had herpes. What are the chances I could have gotten herpes from this episode? Let's assume she was having an outbreak. What would the odds be? The condom remained intact the whole time, no breakage, and the sex was very quick...less than a minute... Also if she had pubic lice, can I buy the shampoo and treat for that even if I have no symptoms?
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Sep 23, 2008 03:14PM
, Sep 23, 2008 03:14PM
Your risk of herpes is very low. Before I list the reasons for saying this, let me congratulate you for asking her and point out that indeed most people do tell the truth when asked. thus asking one's partner is always a good idea. Now let me tell you why your chances of getting herpes are very low:
1. You did not see lesions. Most herpes recurrences are external.
2. You used a condom. Condoms are very effective for preventing transmission of STDs, including herpes because most lesions are on the genitals and the genitals are covered by condoms.
3. It turns out that most exposures to herpes do not lead to transmission. If you remember that at least 1 in five adults have genital herpes and that they can be asymptomatically shedding the virus about 10% of the time, the math tells you that most contacts to herpes do not lead to transmission.
4. The duration of your exposure was brief.
Bottom line- little herpes risk. do not worry. If you should note genital lesions occurring in the 3-10 days after your exposure, get them tested for herpes. If not, then the evidence becomes compelling that you did not get HSV from this exposure. I would not recommend blood testing in this situation.
RE lice. Don't worry. again odds of infection are very, very low. The odds of you getting a rash or skin infection from your exposure are much higher than the odds of you getting pubic lice from the exposure you describe.
Hope this helps. EWH
1. You did not see lesions. Most herpes recurrences are external.
2. You used a condom. Condoms are very effective for preventing transmission of STDs, including herpes because most lesions are on the genitals and the genitals are covered by condoms.
3. It turns out that most exposures to herpes do not lead to transmission. If you remember that at least 1 in five adults have genital herpes and that they can be asymptomatically shedding the virus about 10% of the time, the math tells you that most contacts to herpes do not lead to transmission.
4. The duration of your exposure was brief.
Bottom line- little herpes risk. do not worry. If you should note genital lesions occurring in the 3-10 days after your exposure, get them tested for herpes. If not, then the evidence becomes compelling that you did not get HSV from this exposure. I would not recommend blood testing in this situation.
RE lice. Don't worry. again odds of infection are very, very low. The odds of you getting a rash or skin infection from your exposure are much higher than the odds of you getting pubic lice from the exposure you describe.
Hope this helps. EWH
Is it ok to sleep with my wife at this point..unprotected? It has been about 4-5 days and no symptoms of anything.