Hip massage

[75sadie]

I went for a hip and lower back massage (not a sexual massage) as I am pregnant and experiencing some discomfort.  I didn't realize that my massage would include the buttock area - I thought it would just include the lower lumbar region.  I am HSV 2 positive but only experience outbreaks in the vaginal area - never on my buttocks and don't currently have any lesions in the buttock region.  I had my underwear on the entire time but she pulled them off to the side to massage the hip/buttock area.  My question is if I had some asymptomatic shedding in the buttock area, could she contract herpes whitlow from me?  Or do you have shedding in areas where you don't normally have outbreaks?  I know she washed her hands afterwards but it was a deep massage and therefore, a lot of skin contact and friction.  I feel sick with anxiety right now.  I always feel like I put people at risk just by doing everyday things.  She doesn't know I have herpes - is that something I should have disclosed to her?  I didn't even think about it until after the fact.

Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

this absolutely was not a risk to the massage therapist. First off, the skin on the buttocks is far too thick for the virus to penetrate to the surface for asymptomatic shedding to be an issue there. For the buttocks, thighs and lower back area, no lesions means no risk from shedding from those areas.

You really need to talk to a therapist if herpes is on your mind and you find you need to wear gloves to change your daughter's diaper due to a fear of transmitting herpes to her. You are allowing it to have far more power in your life than it needs to have and it's obviously effecting your quality of life.  There is no need to wear gloves to change your daughter's diaper because you have genital herpes. Unless are you sexually intimate with someone, your genital herpes is not a risk to them.

grace

[75sadie]

So I have nothing to worry about?  Most of the time, I feel like a walking disease and I feel like I can't do some things that others do.  HSV 2 is always on my mind and pre-occupies my thoughts.  I have anxiety about changing my daughter's diaper over fear I might pass this virus on.  I wear gloves when I put diaper cream on her and wash my hands excessively.  I would hate to give this to anyone - it really does affect who I am.

[sadgirl789]

It's so very sweet of you to care for the health of others.  But you really don't have anything to worry about: thick skinned areas, such as the hips, legs, thighs, buttock do not shed in the absence of a lesion.  You have nothing to worry about or reason to disclose.