TheOneInFour

Yes, there needs to be some way for the virus to penetrate the person's skin, so anything like a break or irritation of the skin qualifies for that. Since mucous membrane skin (mouth, eyes, nose, genitals, anal areas) is very thin and fragile, it can tear and break easily. This is one reason why herpes most often infects these areas. Other skin is more thick and tough so it's not as easily infected.

It doesn't have to be genital skin; it can be potentially anywhere there is a break in the skin for the virus to enter. However, the whole "boxer shorts" area is a potential outbreak area once you are infected with herpes in the genital area. This is because it lives in the nerves that service the same skin area, which extends beyond the strict genital area. But if you get ingrown hairs there, they could act as an entry point for the virus too.

It is very different for different people, both in terms of time and in terms of whether lesions actually develop into a blister or not. Some people only get a rash or small bumps or redness. The soonest is usually a few days, but it could take longer in some people and, as I said, it might never develop into the "classic" blister symptom.

You've asked directly so I'm going to give you a direct answer: You actually placed yourself in a lot of risk, not only for herpes but also HIV. You exposed yourself to her body fluids (which holds the HIV virus), regardless of whether there was penetration or not, and therefore exposed yourself to HIV if she has that.

You also placed yourself at very high risk for getting herpes, if she has genital herpes and was shedding the virus at the time (which may or may not have visible symptoms). Herpes is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact (not through the sharing of body fluids, although body fluids can sometimes carry the HSV virus). You certainly had that contact.

You should get a doctor to examine and do a swab test on your sore ASAP, while it's still relatively fresh. However, swab tests are notorious for returning false negative results (meaning its says you don't have it but you do). You might have to test several times before you know. If you get a sore anywhere around the "boxer shorts" area again, get your doc to do a test ideally within 24-48 hours of when it becomes moist or wet (if it does).

I would also recommend that you get a type-specific blood test done right away, so that you have a baseline of what you do and don't have in terms of herpes. (NB: If you have genital herpes without getting symptoms, you might have exposed *her* to getting it and you need to let her know that.) If you test negative for either HSV-1 or HSV-2 (especially type-2, since that is the most common cause of genital herpes), you should test again in about 4 months. It can sometimes take that long for antibodies to show up in a blood test.

And get tested for HIV while you're at it, and repeat it after the recommended time (your doctor will know the timing that works best; probably around 3 months or so).

Good luck. I hope it turns out you don't have it, but please be more careful in the future. Don't take chances like that; you're just asking for trouble (and so is she).

TheOneInFour

[This message has been edited by TheOneInFour (edited 08-13-2003).]