The answer to your question is that transmssion from genitals to hand to genitals does not happen, just as persons using a glass after someone with a cold sore drinks from it do not get HSV-1. The virus is just not that hardy. In addition, remember that most HSV exposures do not lead to transmission of infection. Finally, let me also point out that transmission is, in part dependent on the amount of virus one is exposed to and that with each successive transfer (i.e. genital to hand, etc) the amount of virus present falls off markedly.
There is a theoretical exception to this. In health care workers, there is a well described phenomenon called a herpetic whitlow in which transmission to a persons hand follows direct contact of the hand with a lesion. This tends to occur primarily when the person's hands have open sores or are chaffed and are very, very rare in the course of masturbation/sexual contact.
Thus, while there may be a tiny, tiny risk of transmission occurring in the manner you describe, it simply is not a realistic possibility. To put it in context, it is far more likely that your partners will contract HSV from contact with partners who are unaware that they are infected with herpes, as is the case for 8 of 10 infected persons, than that they will get herpes from you in the situation you describe. Hope this helps. EWH
Thank you. Glad we could help. EWH
I found it very coincidental that friend of mine was freaking out last night about sharing a glass with someone who he later realized had a cold sore (in brighter lighting). I tried to tell him that a doctor had just informed me glasses and such cannot pass it regardless of outbreaks, but it did not seem to calm him down.
Im not surprised. All of these (non-medical) websites say that glasses, towels, etc, can pass it. I wish this mis-information could be monitored some how! It makes life so much more difficult for people who actually have it. The web is great in many ways but I think it contributes to peoples irrational fears about STDs because there is just SO MUCH wrong (and scary) info out there. Im glad reputable sites like this are around to counter the wrong info on the other ones.
Thanks again Doctor Hook!