Oh my. Shingles rarely recurs in the healthy adult. I am virtually certain this was your genital herpes. And it seems that your dermatologist agreed. So I don't know if your boyfriend didn't get your herpes, already has herpes or what. Has he actually been tested? If not, he should be. And if he is uninfected, I would recommend daily therapy for you and at least for a while, condoms if he is concerned about transmission.
Terri
Thick skin without an outbreak is not infectious, but thick skin with on is contagious. Also, even though your outbreaks are not technically genital, you will shed virus from the genital tract when you have outbreaks in the extragenital area, like buttocks.
EVen if your boyfriend got a little virus on his hand, which isn't very likely, it probably won't infect him unless he has a break in his hand exactly where he touched the virus. Not likely at all, do you agree?
Herpes is usually less contagious as people age, but not for everyone.
Does this help?
Terri
Yes your answer helps. I never knew this information. I had two long term relationships where condoms weren't not used and I didn't avoid sex when I had an outbreak. No doctor ever warned me about this risk. Not sure what to think now as I always thought it was from the blisters that I could pass it on.
Hi Terri just thought of something to add about my history, it happened so long ago. When I first got an outbreak it was very large painful blisters on my waist area and my doctor said it was shingles and no medication was given (1986). It kept coming back monthly but still she said it was shingle for a whole year. During that year I met a new boyfriend and we took no precautions. Finally I was diagnosed by a dermatologist and given acyclovir which was new then. After that I just put bandages on my sores but no condom. My boyfriend never displayed any symptoms. Did we get lucky or is it possible I don't shed from the genital track?