Question about fingering?

[Eman99]

So I understand herpetic whitlow can occur if the virus enters broken skin on the finger, but I recently was hooking up with a guy and i fingered his anus quite a bit.

He does have anal herpes  and i knew that going in, but i figured fingering shouldn’t be too much of a worry.

He told me later he may have been feeling a outbreak coming on the last couple of days and failed to tell me.

I couldn’t see of there were blisters or any kind of lesions, but given the extensive fingering i had done, even with unbroken skin, could i get herpes whitlow? I worry about it getting in through the top side of my hand, specifically upper part at the nail because all of the skin is not as thick as the undersides of our hands. Especially by the cuticles.

Could the virus still enter? What are my odds that that happens?

Thanks

[Eman99]

To expand on one point you made, i just have one more question. Since hsv can shed from the genitals if you’ve been infected anally, is it true the other way around?

Is everyone who has genital hsv shedding from their anus too, even if that area had nothing to do with how they got it?

Thanks

[auntiejessi]

Yes, you shed from the mucous membranes in the entire area no matter where you were initially infected.

It's not just an anal infection or genital infection, even though it's often referred to as such.

[auntiejessi]

No, the skin on your hands is too thick for the virus to penetrate, even at your cuticles. The only skin it can penetrate is mucous membranes - the mouth, inside of the nose, the vagina and labia, penis, and anus.

You should know that your partner has genital herpes, not just anal herpes. He may have been infected from anal sex, and get outbreaks anally, but he is also infectious from the entire genital area.

Herpes infects nerve groups, and genital herpes infects the sacral ganglia. This means he can get outbreaks anywhere in the boxer short area, and can shed from any mucous membrane in the area.

Does he take daily suppressive meds?

I'd also be concerned about his level of communication and honesty about this. If he's feeling any kind of symptoms, he shouldn't be having sexual activity, and I say this as someone who has genital hsv2.

I don't want you to worry - I think you're fine. I just want you to be informed and to really think about this guy, especially if you're considering a relationship with him. Safer sex is on both partners, but for those of us with an STI, we need to be really honest about it.

[Eman99]

Thank you, I appreciate that input. We are fairly new together so I will have a talk with him and decide what i want to do.

Can the virus not enter pores and thongs like that? I imagine viruses are smaller than anything we could imagine thats why i asked about the cuticles and such..even the smallest of an opening for the virus could be invisible to the naked eye and with lengthy enough friction, it still could not penetrate?

Thanks again

[auntiejessi]

No, the virus can't enter pores. It can only enter mucous membranes and broken skin.

Friction can cause broken skin, if we're talking about surfaces like when you fall and scrape your knee on concrete or something. Fingering won't do that.

We have years of science to back this up. :)

[Eman99]

Great thanks

[Eman99]

My question also pertains to either scenario, whether its a full blown outbreak, or none at all..wondering if it can get in that upper thinner area..thanks again