[Question #1915] HSV1 / Shower

90 months ago

Hello

This may seem like an odd question, but I need to ask.

I have HSV1 in my anus. I'm not that knowledgeable about this. I believe I was about to have an outbreak.

I was traveling with my friend, we were staying in the same hotel room and sharing the same bathroom. We shared the same shower but not at the same time.

My question is this. Is it possible to spread HSV1 through area's like a shower or bathroom? For instance, I used the shower first then probably ten minutes later my friend used the shower. Is it possible to spread HSV like this? I'm just checking to make sure my friend is ok.

Thank you

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

90 months ago

It is not possible to transmit herpes in this way. The cool thing about soap is that it destroys the lipid layer that surrounds the virus, causing it to fall apart completely and be utterly useless for transmission.
Thank you for using our forum to ask your herpes questions - do you have any more?

Terri
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90 months ago

Hello Terri

Thank you for answering my question.

If I didn't use soap ? Would water work the same? I use soap lol, this was a camping trip and we all forgot to bring soap.

I think my worry was that a damp moist shower setting is where something like this accident might happen? The virus some how splashing on to the surfaces of the shower, then my friend using the shower next some how comes in contact with those surfaces?

I appreciate your help

Thank you.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

90 months ago

No, even without soap this is not going to occur. The dilution factor would also keep this from happening. And if virus somehow splashed up against a wall of the shower, there woul need to be a whole lot of it around and he would need to be rubbing his penis all over the spot where it splashed, etc etc. You can see when I talk about it in this way that that didn't happen. I appreciate you worrying about your friend, but I would say there is zero chance he would acquire herpes from you in this way.

Terri
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90 months ago

Hello Terri

Thank you for explaining that to me. I believe I've developed some level of paranoia with having HSV. I've started to become worried where I sit, and who sits in the chair after me, things like that. Basic interactions. But the more I learn the better I'm getting. It's a daily struggle. An article I read is to stop having the "what if" scenario's. I'm very grateful for your insight, you've been incredibly helpful.

I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

Thank you

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

90 months ago

You are most welcome, Ryan, very happy to help. You are not alone with your herpes fears - it's actually pretty common. I hope you can continue to work on that and make good progress.

Best
Terri
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