Aa
Oral Sex & Herpes?!?
Hi,
Yesturday night i was with a friend of mine and we decided to call escorts.
To make a long story short, i got a blowjob (oral sex) by one of the escorts and i did have a condom on. She also liked my balls.
The only problem i have is that when i was done with her i noticed that she may of had a cold sore on the exterior part of her lip.
I did wear a condom but at the same time she licked my balls.
Should i be worried about this, i get myself checked every 4 months and i never had no stds. I do have HSV1 (cold sores on my mouth once a year).
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think there is a high risk in my case in catching HSV2 or anything else?
I wore a condom but the reason i am worred is because she licked my balls also (nutsack). I showered right away when i was done with her.
Thanks,
Adam
Yesturday night i was with a friend of mine and we decided to call escorts.
To make a long story short, i got a blowjob (oral sex) by one of the escorts and i did have a condom on. She also liked my balls.
The only problem i have is that when i was done with her i noticed that she may of had a cold sore on the exterior part of her lip.
I did wear a condom but at the same time she licked my balls.
Should i be worried about this, i get myself checked every 4 months and i never had no stds. I do have HSV1 (cold sores on my mouth once a year).
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think there is a high risk in my case in catching HSV2 or anything else?
I wore a condom but the reason i am worred is because she licked my balls also (nutsack). I showered right away when i was done with her.
Thanks,
Adam
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The best estimate is that condoms are somewhere around 80% effective in preventing HSV transmission through vaginal or anal intercourse. The reduced protection compared with most STDs is because the male condom doesn't prevent all skin-to-skin contact.
For you to have caught herpes from that part of the exposure, you have to assume a) that the escort has genital herpes (most do not); b) that she was shedding virus at the time of the event (probably a 1 in 20 risk, if she has herpes); and a 20% chance the condom didn't protect you. The chance that all those factors would break the wrong way is very low.
In other words, don't worry about it.
That's all for this thread.
For you to have caught herpes from that part of the exposure, you have to assume a) that the escort has genital herpes (most do not); b) that she was shedding virus at the time of the event (probably a 1 in 20 risk, if she has herpes); and a 20% chance the condom didn't protect you. The chance that all those factors would break the wrong way is very low.
In other words, don't worry about it.
That's all for this thread.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As I said above, you are immune to getting a new HSV-1 infection anywhere on your body. It doesn't matter where your previous HSV-1 infection was located. Therefore, there is no possibility you caught genital herpes from the escort. I already said why you can't get HSV-2 in this circumstance; see the first paragraph of my reply. (HSV-2 is almost never the cause of oral herpes.)
HSV-2 isn't an issue from oral sex, so that question is irrelevant to your adventure with the escort. But in answer to your question anyway: It is not true that HSV-1 makes it "much harder" to catch HSV-2. Some research suggests it reduces the risk but other studies didn't find any difference. If prior HSV-1 reduces the risk of new HSV-2, it is only by a small amount.
HSV-2 isn't an issue from oral sex, so that question is irrelevant to your adventure with the escort. But in answer to your question anyway: It is not true that HSV-1 makes it "much harder" to catch HSV-2. Some research suggests it reduces the risk but other studies didn't find any difference. If prior HSV-1 reduces the risk of new HSV-2, it is only by a small amount.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Although the appearance of a possible cold sore on the escort's lip is a concern, when all facts are considered, there really isn't very much to be worried about in this circumstance. I'll go through the reasons in a moment. As a general comment, any risk that exists is for HSV-1, which is virtually the only cause of oral herpes; HSV-2 is not a possibility, for practical purposes. Note that the numbers 1 and 2 refer to the type of virus, not the disease. Genital herpes can be due to either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
First, there is at least a 50% chance you already are infected with HSV-1, as are half of all adults in the US -- even if they have no history of cold sores or other herpes symptoms. If you have had the virus before, you are immune and will not catch it again, anywhere on your body.
Second, HSV typically has to be "massaged" into the tissues for infection to occur. (That's why initial genital herpes in men generally involves the penis, and specifically the parts of the penis most vigorously "massaged" during sex -- the head and shaft.) Just licking is less likely to transmit the virus.
Third, the scrotum has thicker skin than the penis (especially in uncircumcised men) -- which is probably another reason taht initial genital herpes does not often involve the scrotum.
For these reasons, the chance you were infected is low, even if your escort partner had an oral herpes outbreak. Anyway, maybe that's not what she had, perhaps just a pimple or some other blemish. I suggest you call her up and ask. If she has another explanation for the lesion, it would be reassuring.
Keep on the lookout for blisters or other sores on your scrotum. If nothing appears within 3 weeks, you can safely conclude you weren't infected. If something shows up or you otherwise remain concerned, visit a health care provider. If you want even more reassurance, in the next few days, you could have a blood test for antibody to HSV-1 (and HSV-2, if you wish). If positive for HSV-1, it will mean you had it before and could not have caught it from the escort.
Bottom line: The risk is low, if not quite zero. You should be fine.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
First, there is at least a 50% chance you already are infected with HSV-1, as are half of all adults in the US -- even if they have no history of cold sores or other herpes symptoms. If you have had the virus before, you are immune and will not catch it again, anywhere on your body.
Second, HSV typically has to be "massaged" into the tissues for infection to occur. (That's why initial genital herpes in men generally involves the penis, and specifically the parts of the penis most vigorously "massaged" during sex -- the head and shaft.) Just licking is less likely to transmit the virus.
Third, the scrotum has thicker skin than the penis (especially in uncircumcised men) -- which is probably another reason taht initial genital herpes does not often involve the scrotum.
For these reasons, the chance you were infected is low, even if your escort partner had an oral herpes outbreak. Anyway, maybe that's not what she had, perhaps just a pimple or some other blemish. I suggest you call her up and ask. If she has another explanation for the lesion, it would be reassuring.
Keep on the lookout for blisters or other sores on your scrotum. If nothing appears within 3 weeks, you can safely conclude you weren't infected. If something shows up or you otherwise remain concerned, visit a health care provider. If you want even more reassurance, in the next few days, you could have a blood test for antibody to HSV-1 (and HSV-2, if you wish). If positive for HSV-1, it will mean you had it before and could not have caught it from the escort.
Bottom line: The risk is low, if not quite zero. You should be fine.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Thanks Doc, Very helpful!!!
I appreciate your responsse. i have one last question than this post is done.
I did go on and have sex with the escort later, but i always had a condom on. From your experience how safe are condoms?...80%, 90%???
Thanks,
Adam
like I said earlier I have hsv1 but I never encountered no outbreaks in my genital area.
Why would it not be possible to get hsv2 in this circumstance?
Why would it not be possible to get hsv2 in this circumstance?
hi doc,
Thanks for the reply, I already have hsv1. I was tested positive for that a while ago, I've probably had that since I was young. But my concern is that I don't want to encounter genital blisters or lesions...
Seeing that I did wear a condom my risk factor would b low, correct?
Is it true that if a person has hsv1 it is much harder to get hsv2?
Thanks for the reply, I already have hsv1. I was tested positive for that a while ago, I've probably had that since I was young. But my concern is that I don't want to encounter genital blisters or lesions...
Seeing that I did wear a condom my risk factor would b low, correct?
Is it true that if a person has hsv1 it is much harder to get hsv2?
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
