genital herpes transmission

[jh11372]

Hi:

I was infected with genital herpes a week ago and am currently on the stage or primary outbreak. My questions are as following:

1. Could I give genital herpes to other people by mouth to mouth kissing in the future? After an outbreak is healed, If a person touches my penis by hand, will this person be at risk of infection?

2. in the future if I have sex with a person who already got genital herpes (no symptoms), could I get genital herpes in other part of my body besides the part currently with primary outbreak (on my penis)? for example, could i get it on my mouth, lips or butt etc if there is oral sex or anal sex involved?

I appreciate your help.



This discussion is related to Please Help: Skin to Skin Contact--Confused.

[auntiejessi]

Most of these answers are in the herpes handbook, and its much easier for you to read that than for us to type the exact same thing here.

Remember that you are only infected genitally.  You are not infectious orally, as you aren't infected there if you only have type 2.

Shedding doesn't happen every day - only a percentage of days.  You can read more about that in the handbook that Grace gave you the link for.

AJ

[jh11372]

Hi Grace,

Thank you for the answers. I have hsv2, result from the blister sample swap 7 days ago. first came with blisters, no pain or itch, but I started to develop pain in the genital area 3 days ago, even the blistered are almost dry out.

just to clarify, so the virus will exist on the surface of my skin in the boxer area when the virus is active even without symptoms, but not in my saliva? meaning if i perform oral sex to an uninfected partner, then the uninfected partner will not get it from me.

How does the virus enter into human body? through a cut for sure, but could it enter even there is no cut on the skin? the idea of people might get infected by touching my genital area is sacry.

if i perform oral sex to an infected partner with hsv2, meaning I am also at risk of getting it in my mouth, eye or throat even I already had hsv2 in my genital area?

my doctor suggests me to take 500mg Valtrex daily for a whole year to reduce the chance reoccurrence, what do you think about that? i am pretty depressed about the idea of the possibility of infecting other people and need to take the pill for the rest of my life.

Thanks for your help.

[gracefromHHP]

I encourage you to read the herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com. It will answer almost all your questions you have about herpes.

How were you diagnosed? do you know if you have hsv1 or hsv2?

genital herpes is transmitted thru direct skin on skin contact. You will not transmit your genital herpes thru kissing someone. if you have oral herpes then you can transmit that thru kissing but not your genital herpes.  You can transmit herpes to a partner's hands but it's low risk.  

Even though your symptoms so far have just been on your penis - you have the virus in the entire "boxer short" area as we refer to it. If you get an ob on your butt - it's because the virus is already there.  Same with even if you have never had anal sex - you can still get anal symptoms due to the pathways of the nerve ganglia that supply that whole area.  

grace