Alright, what's the deal with self-innoculation? - Herpes Message Board

tex1033 · 06-04-2004, 03:39 PM

So basically I've come to the conclusion that I've got HSV-1. I've gotten cold sores on my lips from the time i was about 10 years old (i'm 18 now)
Anyway, two days ago, I very lightly touched the cold sore on my lip and about five minutes later went to the restroom (without washing my hands beforehand.) Now, I am not circumcized, so I didn't actually touch the tip of the penis (the glands) but I did touch the foreskin. Now I'm terrified that I just gave myself genital herpes.

The worst part is that I'm about to enter into a new relationship with a wonderful girl, but now I'm scared to even talk to her because I don't want to get involved if I have genital herpes.

One more thing, in the event that I did self-innoculate myself with genital herpes (HSV-1) how would I know? How long 'till I have an outbreak? Is there any sure way of knowing? Thanks for the help....

movingrightalong · 06-04-2004, 10:11 PM

You can definitely reinfect yourself at new sites, but you have to remember a few things. 1) Herpes dies quickly in air. Unless you had a really moist area on your finger in which herpes could live, it very well may have died on your finger. 2) the antibodies that you already have in your system will offer you a degree of protection, although they don't prevent you from infecting yourself and 3) you would have to have an opening in the skin in which the virus entered. Have you had any sores or other signs taht you have infected yourself? It's not impossible, but if you've not had any reason to suspect that you have herpes down there then you're probably fine.

rockandroller · 06-05-2004, 03:46 PM

i posted a similiar question during the week. found this question and answer on another site. i was wondering the same thing...

Member question: My girlfriend gets cold sores. That is the same virus - herpes - right? Can she give me the virus via oral sex?

Warren: Absolutely. However, if you already have HSV-1, then it is unlikely that you would get it genitally if you don't have it there already. If you have ever had a cold sore, then you also have HSV-1 and you could have HSV-1 and never have a cold sore.

so people say you can spread it to other parts of your body and some say no. guess we have to just be careful. hope this helps...

backpacker · 06-05-2004, 07:00 PM

I think mra is right; within five minutes the virus would die on your finger unless you had some kind of goop on it already.

anna-bananna · 06-07-2004, 08:30 AM

is it agaist the rules for me to ask you what other site you went to??