I really don't think you should be worried at all. Everybody touches their genitals and then their mouth -- it happens all the time, usually without realizing it. I'm sure you've done it hundreds of time other than the one time you're thinking of. Can HPV be transmitted from genitals to mouth by such contact? Maybe -- but probably not often. On the other hand, oral HPV is quite common (although not as common as genital infection), including people who haven't performed oral sex. Some of these infections may result from their own genital-hand-mouth contact. But it really doesn't matter anyway. The vast majority of HPV infections, whether genital or oral, never cause any disease problem.

As for oral and genital HSV1 infection, Terri Warren is exactly right:  If you have had cold sores, i.e. oral herpes due to HSV1, you are immune to catching HSV1 again anywhere on the body. You couldn't transfer your oral HSV1 infection to your genital area even if you tried.

There's really nothing to be concerned about. Try to forget about it and move on with no further concern.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

The exact origins of oral HPV are not always obvious. Many cases of course are acquired by oral sex, but oral HPV sometimes is present in people who have not performed oral sex. Most such persons also have genital infection with the same HPV type; this suggests that auto-inoculation may explain some cases, i.e. transfer of one's own HPV from genital area to mouth may explain some cases. In any case, why are you so freaked out about oral HPV? Most infections are harmless. Although there has been a lot of media attention to throat cancer from HPV, it remains rare -- much less common than other cancers like colon, rectum, long, prostate, breast, etc. Even among people with oral HPV, the vast majority do not lead to cancer.

Do your best to mellow out and stop worrying about this. I hope these commetns help you do so.