[Question #4768] STDs back of thigh??

80 months ago

Hey,

So just now I went for an asian massage and the masseuse sat on the back of my thigh. She was wearing underwear and it was about 1 minute long and very light pressure.

I was wondering If it would be possible to get skin to skin STDs? HPV, Herpes and or Syphilis from this encounter? I know herpes can present on the back of the thigh but is that a normal place for a primary outbreak?

80 months ago

I would like to add she was wearing a g strong and there was not much coverage

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

80 months ago

Welcome back, but sorry you found it necessary. The main point of our replies to your previous questions is that STDs, including the skin-to-skn infections like HPV, herpes and syphilis, are not transmitted by the superficial, fleeting sorts of contact you have descirbed in this and your other threads. Skin-to-skin does not mean that ANY skin contact can transmit them. It has to be intimate and generally prolonged: these bacteria and viruses probably have to be massaged into the skin for infection to take hold. And in any case, no STD is ever transmitted by hand contact with any part of the body, even with the genital area.

Let's make this your last question along these lines. If you do not have unprotected intercourse (penile penetration) or intense (e.g. "grinding") genital to genital contact, you will never be at risk for these or any other STDs. So responses to exposures like you have had will always say no risk, no worries. Please don't spend money on questions whose answers are so obvious you know them before asking. Also, repetative questions have little educational potential for other users, one of the main purposes of the forum. Thank you for your understanding.

I'll leave this thread open for only a single additional follow-up comment, or will close it after 2-3 days.

HHH, MD

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80 months ago

Did handsfield,

Sorry if these seemed to be repetitive and it was not my intention to abuse or misuse your expertise and or website by any stretch of the imagination.

I understand that there is a minimal risk and that a person needs to be infected etc.

However, when I did a good search, thigh outbreaks did appear specifically on your site "Signs and symptoms can be found on the penis and vulva, near the anus, on the thigh, on the buttocks, and virtually anywhere in the genital area." this is what led me to ask a question.

When I did a search on the forum i only found one question regarding "herpes on thigh" again, why I asked

I was curious if it were possible to obtain herpes on the hamstring as your primary outbreak or is it normally seen on thighs because of nerves etc.

Now I understand there has to be friction and you're right to assume I most likely knew the answer already, however, you 3 are, well, the 3 best and hearing a response from you is a major help.

Also while this will be your only response,

What is the % accuracy of IGG at 4 weeks? 6 weeks? And 8 weeks? I know 12 weeks is the golden rule I'm just curious about the other 3 mentioned.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

80 months ago

You have misunderstood the comment you quote or its context. HPV and herpes indeed can appear in those locations, but that applies almost entirely to chronic or recurrent infections. Initial HPV and HSV infections are virtually always directly on the genitals, for the reasons I said: vigorous direct gential contact is required and hands never transmit infections.

I strongly recommend against HSV testing based on the exposures you have described. The chance of false or misleading results is far higher than the chance you caught HSV. If a result is positive for either HSV1 or HSV2, it will not be from the exposures described on this forum; you would have to look to other possibilities, including a need to test your regular partner(s) as the probable source. If you have a regular partner, are you prepared for that discussion?

That said, for new HSV infections, IgG antibody is detectable in an estimated 50-60% of cases by 4 weeks, 80% at 6 weeks, and 90% at 8 weeks. Those are just rough estimates.

You came here for expert, science based reassurance and advice. I have given that and the rest is up to you. I hope you don't get tested for HSV.

Best wishes and stay safe.

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