[Question #13419] STD Transmission through clothes

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1 months ago
Hello,
I met someone and we were fooling around last night.  He was kissing, licking, and rubbing my vagina with his hand over top of my clothes.  I had a pair of thin leggings on and no underwear.  He was fully clothed and had no visible sores on his mouth.  I am wondering if I could have got infected with an STD (especially herpes) this way? Is there any risk? I also saw he had a prescription pill bottle for valacyclovir. This makes me pretty sure he has genital herpes. Now I am paranoid I could be at risk for getting it.
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1 months ago
I also slept all night wearing those leggings
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1 months ago
Sorry also want to be clear, he was kissing and licking my vagina over top of my clothes
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum.  Thanks for your continuing confidence in our service.  I'll be glad to comment.

I know from reviewing your previous posts that you worry about STIs.  

As you know, it is statistically unlikely that your partner had an STI.  Even if he did, the events you describe did not put you at any risk for any STI.  STIs (including HIV and herpes) are not transmitted through clothing, even if that clothing is quite thin and and even if the cloth is wet with saliva or genital secretions.  This is true even if you wore the leggings which were licked were worn throughout the night.  There is absolutely no reason for concern and no medical or scientific reason for testing.

I hope these comments are reassuring.  There is no reason for concern from the activities you describe.  EWH
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1 months ago
Okay thank you for your response, it was very reassuring.  Also curious, are HSV2 infections of the mouth even possible? I do have coldsores or HSV1 orally. Does this infection make it impossible to also get HSV1 genitally?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 months ago
HSV-2 infections of the mouth are extraordinarily rare and not something to worry about

The fact that you get cold, sores, which are caused by HSV-1 means that you will not get HSV-1 elsewhere on your body

EWH
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1 months ago
Okay thank you for your help