Risk of HSV-1 exposure or transmission?

[iDaleo]

Dear Docs,

This past weekend I ended up french kissing a girl of whom I know to be a very clean girl. We both are in college (Ohio U and Ohio State) and are both from the same hometown. The first night all we did was kiss and the second night was the same, except for that the kissing got a little more intimate and her shirt came off. We both agreed that we weren't going to go below the pantline b/c we both were trying to be safe. However, when I was kissing her stomach and breasts, I went a little below her pantline but did not put my tongue or mouth in or around the actual labia ( I think that's what the outer part that gets wet is called). I just know I was kinda close bc I could tell that she had shaven in the area that I briefly kissed (no licking or biting or anything, jsut kissing). My concern is that right now, there is this little zit that is below my lip. I have gotten these since I can remember and I don't think it's oral herpes bc it's just a round red spot that comes to a point, but it has me concerned nontheless. It wasn't bleeding, pussing, hurting, or anything when we kissed (that I can remember). I have jsut been worried bc I heard that alot of people have HSV-1 and can transmit it very easily. I am worried that since I kissed her close to her vagina that I could have given her HSV-1 in her genital area. I have had horrible anxiety over it bc I would feel terrible if I gave that to such an innocent girl just bc I kissed her close to her private area. I know that for a fact my mouth didn't touch her actual vagina, so am I at any risk of giving her anything even if I somehow had herpes? I know it soulds ridiculous, but I would just feel horrible if I gave something like that to someone. So i guess I just want to know if it was even possible to give her anything? Sorry for the long question

Sincerely,
Dale

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

No, don't send me a picture.  But if others have seen this bump and believe it isn't herpes, that's good enough for me.  I think this whole experience is very low risk for her.  If you want to do an HSV antibody test (IgG) that might provide you with more clarity about what you might have and what you don't have.  In the future, putting your mouth on someone's belly is simply not going to be too satisfying sexually, and if you knew you didn't have HSV 1, your range of sexual expressing could be broader, if you get my drift.

Terri

[iDaleo]

If you would like to see a picture I could email one to you or post one. My mom is a registered nurse and I sent one to her and I am still waiting for her response. After talking to both her and a doctor here at my school they both have told me that they know what herpes looks like and that I don't have it. But I just worry alot and like to hear outside opinions. Thanks and let me know

[iDaleo]

No my mouth was not on her clitoris. I am sure 100%. It was just above and probably just on her abdomen bc I know I didn't go too low. I have never been told I have a cold sore. It honestly looks like a zit and I think I am just scaring myself. It is right on my lip line and not actualy on my lip. It looks like a zit bc its small and round and comes to a point. Hope that helps a little

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Its hard to say what the risk is here because 1) I don't know if you have HSV 1 orally or not because your description is difficult to interpret and 2) I'm not sure how close your mouth was to her genital area.  Was your mouth on her clitoris, above the clitoris, just on her abdomen?  Your mouth doesn't have to be exactly on her vagina to transmit HSV 1, but if you were just kissing her abdomen, that skin is too thick for the virus to be transmitted to her body.  

Has anyone told you that you have cold sores?  A little zit below the lip could be just a zit or a cold sore, so hard to know from your description.  

Perhaps you can clarify.

Terri