Hi doctors. I have been in monogamous serious relationships and I am now newly single. I recently met someone and we messed around a bit. We kissed and then I did some heavy petting on his legs/groin area. He was in boxers and his penis came out of his boxers and my hand had touched it. While we were making out he rolled on top of me to kiss me and his penis was still out. I had a dress on and under my dress I was wearing spanex. They are thick compression lady shorts that go all the way up past my belly button. Also the dress never came off so basically from little above my knee and down was exposed. Am I at risk for anything? I have been tested for everything a year ago and it was all clear. I am concerned like most with genital herpes. I didn't have vaginal or oral sex at all. Like I mentioned we kissed and he was exposed with my hand touching him. Any reason to be concerned or tested? I hate the dating world but also want to be fun and responsible. Any feedback would be great. Thank you for your time. 

You are most definitely not at risk of acquiring anything that is sexually transmitted no!  However if you want to proceed and go further with this relationship it is not unreasonable for you to ask that your partner be tested for STD's if he has not been tested since his last sexual encounter.  You mentioned that you have already been tested - have you had sex since you were last in a sexual relationship?  Testing as a couple prior to having sex is, in my opinion, a smart way to know where everyone stands, there are no surprised and you can feel freer, I think, to be sexually expressive in more ways.  Of course that's only true as long as you are monogamous.

Terri
---

Hi terri

Yes, even where his penis touched your thigh is fine.  STD's require the thin skin or mucous membranes of the genitals to get in - thighs are way too thick!

Terri
---

Thanks Terri. And I forgot to answer you - no I haven't had any type of sex with anyone since my last relationship. I get the hep panels HIV and RPR bc that is what my gyn suggests from working in a hosptial. HSV testing scares me because i seem to read a lot of people who are shocked that they have it and said never had symptoms. I was tested twice last year for both types and was negative. Do you suggest getting hsv tested only to start new relationships? If I am responsible like I've described above should I continue to not have anxiety if I were to get tested again? I am going to obviously have another partner in my life time. Again - being cautious. Getting facts. I'm not in college running around with not a care in the world anymore :-)

And just one more thing. On my knuckle I have the littlest abrasion that is almost completly healed over....again no risk ?

were you tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea as well?  So you've never been tested for herpes?  Yes, it is possible for people to have herpes and now know it until they have been tested and yes, that can be upsetting to discover.  but the question I would ask is this:  would you rather find out you have herpes by an antibody test or by infecting another person?  If you've been tested twice and are negative for HSV 1 and 2, then that's terrific.     I wouldn't worry a bit about your knuckle.

Terri
---