[Question #5753] HSV2 and New Partner

19 months ago

Hi doctors, I have HSV2 genital herpes for about 4 years now, and have just recently had sexual intercourse with a new partner.  I received unprotected oral sex from him and I gave him unprotected oral sex as well. We did have intercourse (protected) but there was unprotected rubbing of the genitals. He did rub his penis on my vagina and clitoris a couple of times, but his penis did not enter my vagina unprotected, possibly just the very tip of his penis may have entered, if that, but we did have full protected sex with condoms multiple times and multiples times of his penis rubbing against my vagina unprotected. I was not experiencing a breakout at the time and I do not get breakouts on my vagina, they are always near my buttocks area. I also do not take any antiviral drugs. Since his penis did not go inside of my vagina unprotected but he did give me oral sex and did rub his penis on my vagina and clitoris, what is the likely hood that he contracted hsv2 from me?  With the rubbing of genitals unprotected cause a person to contract hsv2? Will he get hsv2 from giving me oral sex? Because his penis didn’t touch an actual breakout does that mean he possibly didn’t contract it since I do not get breakouts on my vagina? Please help, thanks 

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
19 months ago
I think the likelihood of you having infected him with the encounter that you describe is very low.  All the things you did present a very small risk of infecting him but they are very small.  I don't have a percentage for you but since your intercourse was protected and there limited genital to genital rubbing, I think infection is very unlikely.  People who get buttocks outbreaks do shed genitally but probably less often than people who get only genital outbreaks.  Taking daily antiviral medicine reduces transmission by almost 50%.  is there a reason you aren't taking that?

Terri
---
19 months ago
Thank you Doctor for your speedy response, it’s greatly appreciated. I do not take antivirals because I’ve been using various herbs to help me although Im going to incorporate the antivirals. 

So just to be clear. With me receiving oral sex from him and having his penis rub against my vagina, the chances that he contracted HSV2 are very low correct? Do you recommend he test for HSV2 if so how long from now should he test? Or since it’s a low risk he doesn’t need to test? 
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
19 months ago
I do think the risk is very low, correct.  I do not recommend that he test, no.  I don't see a reason to do that unless he develops sore, which I seriously seriously doubt that he will.

Terri
---
18 months ago
Thank you so much I appreciate your responses and feedback, I do have one last follow up question please. I just recently experienced a breakout however it was during the healing phase so blisters were gone and new skin was beginning to form, but not completely.  We did have protected sex again and the healing occurred near my buttocks region so I’m not sure if his scrotum may have touched it or not. Being that the breakout was healing and no blisters were there, was I highly contagious and could’ve passed the hsv 2 to him? Or is the chances  low as healing was occurring? Does someone get herpes simply by coming into contact with a herpes sore or is there more that causes someone to get it? Thank you 
18 months ago
If his scrotum touched my healing site does he automatically have hsv2 or does he’s have to have an open wound on his scrotum in order to get it? Is it passed from skin to skin just by touching an outbreak? What’s the likelihood that he may have hsv2 with his scrotum possibly touching a site that was healing ? 
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
18 months ago
It's not where his scrotum touched that should be a concern but the concern is that your genital area can be shedding virus even when the lesions are on the buttocks or anus.  It is not possible to know exactly when you were shedding virus or how much at the time of intercourse but it is important for you to know that you can give off virus from the genital area even if outbreaks are not there AND that you can give off virus even if you have no symptoms whatsoever  This is tough news to hear but you should know it and this should guide your sexual practices and disclosure. 

In answer to your specific question, it is unlikely that his scrotum touching a healing area, by itself, would result in infection

Terri
---