[Question #13902] HSV1 to Genitals Simple Question

Avatar photo
1 months ago
I looked through your questions and kind of content with what I found, but I want to support you guys and ask myself anyway - so take my 25!

I think I know the answer to this (which I think is pretty much a no risk type of encounter) 
Hung out with a guy, chill- Just wanted to masturbate together and just do hand jobs. Easy risk free fun. We've hung out before so I trusted him.
Then he got too into it and suddenly went down and licked the tip of penis for maybe like ...5 seconds? It all happened so fast, maybe have been a tiny more, a tiny less. I had my parts in my hand and pushed him away. My penis was not in his mouth, but not sure if his lips touched my penis at all. I saw a red spot on his lip, but claimed it was a burn from eating that was healing (Im inclined to believe him because I've known him awhile and I thought it was a nick in his shaving as it looked like something I've done to myself) 
So you know what my question is gonna be. What's my risk ?
Deep down I think there was none, I just think everything was just way too fast and brief to really transmit anything. 
Doesn't Herpes need to essentially be "Massaged" in? 

Correct me if I'm wrong, I just don't see 2-4 seconds doing anything even on the extreme chance he had some crazy visible sore. 

Experts help and thank you!




Avatar photo
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
1 months ago
I do understand your concern, of course, but this experience of 5 seconds of licking just doesn't present a risk for HSV 1 acquisition.  You would need more contact than that - longer and of a different type with more physical contact, like your penis in his mouth and for some more extended period of time.
Do you know that you are HSV 1 negative? About half of adults in the US between 14 and 49 have HSV 1 though most don't know it.  Just sayin'
Terri
---
Avatar photo
1 months ago
Thanks, Doc
I figured it was a no risk situation, but I do feel a lot better now. The event definitely didn’t last longer than 10 seconds if I was being liberal with the time and even then I know when my parts are in my mouth. (lol) 

And to answer your question, what test would you recommend? To be honest, while I’ve never had a cold sore back when I was a young 20 something I remember making out and kissing with a woman, I was very fond of at the time and I know she got cold sores on Ocasion as he would complain about them to me lol

Even if by some luck, nobody in my family had HSV1 I’d imagine the handful of times I kissed her. I would’ve gotten it regardless.

But in the end, I really don’t know the usual test from Planned Parenthood. Don’t include that.. I know I’m clean across the board but hsv1 has always been an afterthought to me, but it would be nice because if I recall correctly, isn’t it borderline impossible for hsv1 to infect downstairs if you already have an upstairs?

But getting back to the original statement- thank you Doc made my week a lot less stressful
Avatar photo
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
1 months ago
Well, if you tested positive on an IgG antibody test for HSV 1, we would know you already have it somewhere at least.  Depending upon how much oral sex you've received, you could have it orally or genitally.  If you've only had this very limited contact described above, then HSV 1 genital infection is not a risk and if you were positive, you would have it orally only.  If you've had more extensive oral sex (you receiving) and were positive for HSV 1, we wouldn't know if your infection was oral or genital, but it you were positive, you could feel reassured that acquiring it genitally as a new infection would be extremely unlikely.  I hope that makes sense.  
If you tested negative, you would still be vulnerable to acquiring HSV 1 in either location.
The best test is the herpes western blot through the University of Washington (anyone can send blood there) but the IgG test through normal lab channels is also pretty darn good.
Terri
---
Avatar photo
1 months ago
Alright, I'll schedule something soon ! Thanks doc. 
Quick final follow up, while this encounter was pretty much zero risk...
On the off chance (implying I didn't have HSV 1 of any kind) Whats the average time for symptoms to be showing up? (implying I put myself in a position where I'm receiving oral for awhile and transmission is possible) Is there a median? I heard 2-10 days, but I don't know why but I think I saw 5-6 days is average for symptoms?  
Avatar photo
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
1 months ago
The average time from infection to symptoms is 2-10, as you mentioned, with the average being 5.5 days
Terri
---