herpes query

[travelingworker]

Hi doctor, I had an encounter with a csw a couple of days ago. We kissed on the lips and I kissed her breasts. She had panties on and I kept my shorts on. There was no intercourse and i undid my shorts and she masturbated me at the end. There was no direct genital contact, only through  panties and shorts. Can you give me an an indication of my hepres risks with this encounter assuming she had herpes but no lesions.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No meaningful risk. Please try to put your worries aside.  EWH

[travelingworker]

Just another quick question. What if she sat on my stomach in her g string, grinding for about 20 seconds. Any risk there?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Correct. EWH

[travelingworker]

Thanks doctor. I already have hsv1 so I am assuming that this was completely risk free.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  There are two different types of herpes virus- herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and HSV-2.  HSV-2 causes most genital herpes and is exceedingly rare are a cause of oral herpes (cold sores).  In contrast, HSV-1 causes nearly all cold sores but can also cause genital herpes, usually as a result of oral genital contact (oral sex).  HSV-1 (cold sores) can also be transmitted through kissing.  In infected persons transmission is more likely to occur if sores/lesions from infection are present but rarely infection can also be transmitted from person to person even without lesions being present.  

The events you describe place you at no risk for genital herpes at all. Herpes virus infections are transmitted only by direct contact and you had no direct genital contact. The virus is not transmitted on persons' hands or through clothing, even wet clothing.  On the other hand, if you do not already have cold sores and she has, there is a small chance that you could get HSV-1 from kissing this person and would develop cold sores from this. Assuming there were no sores on her lips, we would estimate that, if you do not already have HSV-1, your risk of getting it from kissing someone who does is less than 1 infection in 10,000 exposures.  

I hope these comments are helpful to you. EWH