Terri- I know what you mean about questioning testimonials. I have never been tested for hsv2 antibodies, so I understand there is perhaps a one in 5 chance I could have already acquired hsv2 previously. I have only had 4 sexual partners in my life including my wife, but I know that's no guarantee of anything. Is the biokit not terribly accurate as a confirmatory test? I don't know if the western blot is available in Canada. I assume you are still of the mind that it's virtually impossible that I could have acquired hsv2 from the kissing exposure I described. I had never been concerned about herpes before this episode, and as you and Dr. Handsfield agreed, testing over this episode specifically is unnecessary. I assume that if I tested and was positive, it would be due to a previous, genuine sexual encounter, (either with my wife or before I was married)  and perhaps only open a can of worms unnecessarily. Thanks again for your counsel.

The Biokit can be valuable as a confirmatory test, yes but when we used to use it, we found the positives difficult to sort out if there was just a little color present in the test circle - just not easy to read always.  is that available in Canada?  The western blot is not available in Canada, I don't think, but anyone can send blood to UW for testing.  I do understand that testing can relieve anxiety and there is only about 5% chance that your results will be in the low positive range and about a 50% chance that a test result in that range would be positive.  I still believe that getting HSV 2 in your situation is extremely unlikely, correct.

Terri
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I know this will sound super paranoid, but the first time (of the 2 episodes that we got together), I just assumed was risk free because I just kissed her face and shoulder. At one point she sucked my finger very briefly. About 25 minutes later, I went to the washroom, so I would have touched my penis before washing my hands. The contact with my penis while urinating would have been quite fleeting and I had no breaks in my skin. I know that about a day and a half or 2 days later, I had sex with my wife and I 'm not sure if I showered in the interim. Somehow I'm paranoid that if I didn't shower, I might have somehow transferred oral hsv2 to my wife genitally, without  contracting it myself. I know it sounds crazy. I am getting counselling because of my ocd related to all this.

The activities that you describe do you not put you at risk for herpes and no, you can't give it to your wife if you don't have it yourself.

Terri
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I know this is my final question- I know ASHA states that no stds are transmitted through clothes, even if there is some moisture that wicks through. Do you know if the same is true for hepatitis? (ie. virus/bacteria  from vaginal fluid or menstrual fluid transmitting through clothes, with small amount of moisture, to hand, then hand touching surfaces)?  I know I asked a similar question to Dr. Handsfield, but we didn't address the issue of whether it can go through clothes. Thanks for your help. 

Yes, hepatitis is the same.  Clothing really changes the whole picture and viruses just can't make it through layers of clothing to infect someone.  I believe you have no worries here.

Terri
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