OB and dry humping

[checkered]

I engaged in vigorous dry humping last night where I was wearing underwear the whole time and he was wearing underwear half of the time. I see this morning I have a full outbreak (GHSV1). Could I have transmitted it to him?
Also one time his finger moved on the the inside of my underwear it but that was wiped off.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm pleased I could help.  Take care. EWH

[checkered]

Dear EWH,

Thank you so very much for your information. You have no idea how much calmer I feel now, I'm been panicking all day and haven't been able to work.

It is typical unfortunately. Sometimes rigorous rubbing around my period leads to an outbreak.

You are a blessing.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome back to the Forum.  Presuming that your underwear covered the area where your outbreak has occurred, the chance that you transmitted HSV-1 to this partner is miniscule and should not concern you.  I say this for a number of reasons:
1.  HSV is not transmitted through clothing, even if the material gets wet with genital secretions.
2. As you know form your earlier interaction with Dr. Handsfield, there is about a 50-60% likelihood that he already has HSV-1 (whether or not he knows it) and thus cannot be infected again with this virus.
3.  The "efficiency" of HSV transmission to susceptible with direct contact is low with transmission occurring on only a small (less than 1%) of contacts.
4. There is almost no risk of transmission to his hands when his hands were inside your underwear.

Finally, although I am presuming that this is clearly a "typical" recurrence of your HSV-1, I need to also raise the possibility that what you are experiencing in not in fact a recurrence but abrasion and reaction to the vigorous rubbing that occurred during your encounter.  Is the recurrence a typical one for you?

Putting all of these considerations, the likelihood of transmission to your partner is close to zero and not something I would worry about.  I hope my comments are helpful. EWH