[Question #4341] Transmission of STDs through clothing

82 months ago

Hello,

While overseas, I used a bathing suit I bought from a neighborhood store and used it without washing it. Am I at risk for any sexually transmitted disease? Thanks.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

82 months ago

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.

STDs are not transmitted by contact with clothing. It is statistically unlikely the bathing suit was worn by anyone with an STD (if worn at all and not washed since then) but even if that happened, there is no risk at all. There might be a theoretical possibility if intimate clothing has been worn by an infected person very recently, i.e. a few minutes, before any genital fluids have time to dry. Even in this situation there would be little or no risk. Anyway, for sure nothing for you to worry about if the bathing suit was dry.

I hope this information is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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82 months ago

Thanks. My follow-up question is:

I have heard that, despite false information on the internet, that you cannot get HSV1 from sharing drinks or a joint? is this true?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

82 months ago

I'm not sure what "false information" you have seen on the internet. But it is exceedingly unlikely to catch HSV1 by shared joints or drinking glassess. Oral herpes is almost always acquired by direct skin to skin contact with infected persons, like kissing. Even there, the casual social kiss -- a peck on the cheek, or a quick kiss among friends or family members -- is rarely responsible. Intimate, prolonged kissing (i.e. sexual kissing) accounts for most cases in adults.---

82 months ago

Final follow-up

Can you share chapstick as long as you do not have a cold sore present? Thanks much.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

82 months ago

It's never a good ideal to share chapstick, lipstick, etc. Even though they contain preservatives and other ingredients that would inhibit or kill most bacteria and viruses, that can't be guarantee. The main risk is colds, flu, and so on -- but there might be small risk of herpes as well. The herpes virus sometimes is present in the mouth in absence of cold sores, and influenza or cold viruses can also be there in people who don't seem to have a cold or flu. So best not to share these things at any time.

That completes two follow-up comments and replies and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful.

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