Aa
Can I give myself genital herpes?
I've had occasional cold sores (oral HSV1) since I was a kid. An adult now, I'm having my first outbreak in a while, and I'm worried about giving myself genital herpes in the following scenarios:
1. Before realizing that the itching on my lip was a small cold sore, I used the same towel to wipe my face and then my genitals after showering.
2. I frequently touch my mouth while thinking or as a gesture, and then go to the toilet and forget to wash my hands before touching my genitals (usually an hour or so has passed)
Can anyone tell me how long HSV1 can live outside the body on dry skin? How big of a risk was the towel?
Thank you.
1. Before realizing that the itching on my lip was a small cold sore, I used the same towel to wipe my face and then my genitals after showering.
2. I frequently touch my mouth while thinking or as a gesture, and then go to the toilet and forget to wash my hands before touching my genitals (usually an hour or so has passed)
Can anyone tell me how long HSV1 can live outside the body on dry skin? How big of a risk was the towel?
Thank you.
COMMUNITY LEADER
1. Before realizing that the itching on my lip was a small cold sore, I used the same towel to wipe my face and then my genitals after showering.
You already have hsv1, which means you have antibodies that will protect you from getting it in another place on your body. Autoinoculation, which is what this is called, almost always happens when someone has a brand new infection.
If you don't have hsv2 already, hsv1 won't protect you from getting that from a partner, but you won't infect yourself again now with hsv1.
2. I frequently touch my mouth while thinking or as a gesture, and then go to the toilet and forget to wash my hands before touching my genitals (usually an hour or so has passed)
See above. You don't need to wash your hands before going to the bathroom. Herpes dies pretty quickly once air hits it, and you have antibodies.
A note though - if you are touching your mouth a lot, that's a great way to get colds, flus, etc. Might be a good idea to try to break that habit.
You aren't a walking biohazard. You're really okay. :)
You already have hsv1, which means you have antibodies that will protect you from getting it in another place on your body. Autoinoculation, which is what this is called, almost always happens when someone has a brand new infection.
If you don't have hsv2 already, hsv1 won't protect you from getting that from a partner, but you won't infect yourself again now with hsv1.
2. I frequently touch my mouth while thinking or as a gesture, and then go to the toilet and forget to wash my hands before touching my genitals (usually an hour or so has passed)
See above. You don't need to wash your hands before going to the bathroom. Herpes dies pretty quickly once air hits it, and you have antibodies.
A note though - if you are touching your mouth a lot, that's a great way to get colds, flus, etc. Might be a good idea to try to break that habit.
You aren't a walking biohazard. You're really okay. :)
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
