First Cold Sore – Autoinoculation Fears

[ihaveaquestion23]

Hey Terri, so I just got my first cold sore. I was on a family vacation and without thinking drank from the same cup as a family member with an active cold sore on multiple occasions. About a week later my lip becomes sore and a small pimple-like bump begins to form. I bought Abreva and the sore never burst or crusted over but slowly went away over the span of about four days. The cream kept it from fully developing… That said, I’m extremely worried I might have autoinoculated myself. Having never had a cold sore before, the first (and maybe second) day I kept touching it wondering what it was. I didn’t properly wash my hands afterwards because I thought it was just a strange pimple. At some point that day I masturbated and don’t know when I last touched the forming sore. I know this is a new infection because I was tested for hsv1 and hsv2 several months ago and was negative for both. Now I’m terrified I might have inadvertently spread it to my genitals. Every tingle or itch “down there” has me checking for new bumps or sores like a crazy person. What are the chances that I might have autoinoculated myself? I know it hard to do after 4 months but how easy is it to do with your first cold sore? Would I have to touch the sore and then immediately touch my penis or could I touch the sore and 20 minutes later touch my penis and still spread it? Thanks so much!

[Terri Warren]

First of all, we have no idea that you are actually infected as I assume that you didn’t see anyone when this bump was there for a swab test. Second, it is unlikely to acquire HSV from drinking from a glass with someone with an active cold sore but it’s possible, though unlikely. Third, the IgG test for HSV 1 misses 30% of HSV 1 infections, compared to the gold standard herpes western blot.

So you’ve come to quite a few conclusions that may or may not be accurate.
Have you developed sores on your penis?
I think unless you have sores, your conclusions may not be accurate. I would recommend that you repeat the IgG test in 6 weeks and see what happens. There is nothing that you can do right now.

Terri

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