HIV/Herpes clarification

[Tip123]

Hello and many thanks for your reply in advance.

I would like if it is possible some clarifications concerning HIV and herpes and their relation because I have to admit that I am very confused.

From what I understand herpes can be transmitted by skin contact. Are these scenarios then possible? And if someone acquires herpes from a HIV infected person does it mean that he has been exposed to HIV and he has risk?

a)acquiring herpes from kissing. If this is true then even kissing someone with HIV/herpes means that there is exposure and risk to HIV.

b)acqruing herpes from unprotected oral sex. If this is true then from unprotected oral sex herpes can be acquired and as a consequence there is exposure to HIV.

c)acquiring herpes from poretected anal/vaginal sex. Herpes can be acquired by skin contact, is  therefore a chance that if a penis is 4/5 covered then the uncovered part can contract herpes?

d)If the above is true, is there a chance that herpes will be developed in the upper part of the penis and not in the lower(unprotected) part?


I am asking these questions because generaly speaking kissing for instance is considered std free. If someone can catch herpes though from a HIV person and if as a consequence can acquire HIV from herpes then things gets much much more dangerous even for something so "unharmful" like kissing.

Thank you again.

[Tip123]

Is this also the case with other std's/HIV as well? Though this might be quite a generalisation..

[Edward W Hook, MD]

there might be a slight increase in the already small risk but it is quite low.  EWH

[Tip123]

First of all I would like to thank you once more for your reply.

It is true, I am quite anxious but this mainly has to do with the fact that, and I do not want to sound melodramatic or anything like that, HIV and std's in general are considered to be the "modern" plague of some sort and , at least in Europe(Greece and UK at least) where I am from, doctors do not pay a lot of attention. They say "practise safe sex" and everything will be ok.

I can understand what you meant by saying that herpes provides a "doorway" because of the open sores I suppose. My main question though has to do with the fact that if a person with no herpes comes into contact with a HIV/herpes person and acquires herpes does this also means that there is a HIV risk of exposure?

Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I can understand how you might come to the concerns that you have listed but in fact there is no basis in fact.  Herpes increases risk for HIV by providing a portal of entry (a doorway if you will) for the virus to more easily get into a person’s circulation.  Thus concerns about getting HSV and HIV simultaneously are not realistic.  In addition, simple kissing and other gentle contact does not readily transmit herpes.   In fact, the vast majority of exposure to partners infected with HIV, HSV, or both do not lead to transmission.  The hypothetical situations you describe are sufficiently unlikely to not warrant any concern in the same way that if you worried about all of the hypothetical disasters that could occur when you cross the street (i.e. getting hit by a car, falling and suffering head injury on the curb, etc) you would never cross the street.

In answer to your specific questions:

1.  As I said above, while this might be theoretically possible, the FACT is that it has NEVER been described.  it is not a realistic concern.
2.  Same answer.  I would also point out that the mouth is a hostile environment for HIV.  There are enzymes and other components of saliva which make it a difficult place for HIV to survive.
3.  My goodness, you worry a lot.  If this happens it is most rare.  Neither of us has seen this ion over 30 years of practice as STD/HIV specialists.  You are not likely to be the first.
4.  No, if condoms fail due to contact with the uncovered surface the fail at the sites of exposure, not the covered sites.  

Your questions are really "what if" type questions that suggest that you are quite fearful about HIV and/or other STDs.  If this is the case, then my suggestion would be for you and your partners to get checked before you have sex (since you cannot get HIV or other STDs from people who are not infected).  Beyond that, please use condoms correctly and consistently.  These are the things you can do to best protect yourself.

I hope this helps.  Please, let's not get into a string of additional "what if" questions or argue about the accuracy of my opinions.  EWH