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Herpes Autoinoculation
I have a couple of questions about HSV-1 and how it is transmitted. I am 23 years old and have had cold sores for two years.
1. What are the chances of spreading HSV-1 when the virus is in its latent stage?
2. How can I give my boyfriend oral sex without worrying that I will give him HSV-1 (if for example, I get a cold sore the next day)? I would never even risk it if I had a cold sore active.
3. What are my chances of autoinoculating myself with HSV-1? I have started developing OCD-like tendencies such as washing my hands before I go to the bathroom on the off chance my fingers touch my vagina (when I don't even have a cold sore). I do not enjoy these rituals, and would like some logic to break the cycle.
4. What should keep me free of autoinoculation and transmitting it to my boyfriend, whom I love?
1. What are the chances of spreading HSV-1 when the virus is in its latent stage?
2. How can I give my boyfriend oral sex without worrying that I will give him HSV-1 (if for example, I get a cold sore the next day)? I would never even risk it if I had a cold sore active.
3. What are my chances of autoinoculating myself with HSV-1? I have started developing OCD-like tendencies such as washing my hands before I go to the bathroom on the off chance my fingers touch my vagina (when I don't even have a cold sore). I do not enjoy these rituals, and would like some logic to break the cycle.
4. What should keep me free of autoinoculation and transmitting it to my boyfriend, whom I love?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome
Thank you Terri!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Given the care that you have taken, I would worry ZERO about autoinoculation in this situation.
Terri
Terri
I should also say I don't have any visible cuts from the shaving. Gah, i feel so stupid!!
Terri,
I had a cold sore last week and it has been healed (still with residual redness) since about Saturday (Today is Thursday). I just shaved my pubic area but I washed my hands 1-3 times before I shaved. I also washed the area after I shaved. Is there any chance of auto-inoculation with this? Please let me know. I'm feeling very stupid even though I felt like I took all the necessary precautions (I washed my hands a couple of times beforehand), and I hadn't really (knowingly, at least) touched my lip where the cold sore was (it had been healed for a while anyway).
I had a cold sore last week and it has been healed (still with residual redness) since about Saturday (Today is Thursday). I just shaved my pubic area but I washed my hands 1-3 times before I shaved. I also washed the area after I shaved. Is there any chance of auto-inoculation with this? Please let me know. I'm feeling very stupid even though I felt like I took all the necessary precautions (I washed my hands a couple of times beforehand), and I hadn't really (knowingly, at least) touched my lip where the cold sore was (it had been healed for a while anyway).
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
First, has your boyfriend had an antibody test for HSV 1 and 2? If not, then he needs that to decide on the best course of action for the two of you. Without it, you are in the dark.
Lets assume for a moment that your boyfriend tests negative for HSV 1 infection.
It is possible to transmit HSV 1 to from your mouth to either his mouth or his genitals by kissing him or giving him oral sex. This can occur both when you have a cold sore and when you don't. The odds of this happening can be reduced by you taking daily therapy.
The odds of you infecting yourself in a new location are incredibly low at this point. You have an immune response that watches out for any attempted entry of virus at a new location.
Right now, you need to know his status, and you can only truly know through antibody testing.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Terri
Lets assume for a moment that your boyfriend tests negative for HSV 1 infection.
It is possible to transmit HSV 1 to from your mouth to either his mouth or his genitals by kissing him or giving him oral sex. This can occur both when you have a cold sore and when you don't. The odds of this happening can be reduced by you taking daily therapy.
The odds of you infecting yourself in a new location are incredibly low at this point. You have an immune response that watches out for any attempted entry of virus at a new location.
Right now, you need to know his status, and you can only truly know through antibody testing.
Let me know if you have other questions.
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
