Risk of Saliva HSV-1 Transmission Through Penis Abrasion

[hopeagainstherp]

Hi Terri,

I am currently a 20 year old college student. Prior to getting involved in unprotected sex with my previous long-term girlfriend, we both got tested for STDs. I was seronegative for everything, including HSV-1. Recently we had some difficulties, and I went away on spring break where I had a sexual encounter with another girl I knew who has been flirting with me for awhile. She performed oral sex on me, although I requested that we use a condom (as she had an active cold sore). In the middle of the blowjob, the condom became very uncomfortable, as I started to develop a friction burn on the head of my penis. I removed the condom, and she finished me off by hand. At no point did her lips directly touch my genitals (except through the condom). The next morning, the friction burn on the head of my penis was very obvious as damage had been done.

After reading through this, and other forums, I know that the risk of saliva transmission of HSV-1 is low. However, I’m concerned that saliva from the blowjob (either from her hand or from my scrotum) might have entered the freshly abraded skin. I feel guilty about this encounter, and want to mend things with my previous girlfriend, but am worried that if I contract HSV-1, especially on the genitals, she won’t take me back. I’m seeing her this week, and want to set my mind at ease. Could you please let me know my risk level with this encounter?

[Terri Warren]

I think though this whole situation with active cold sore sounds very scary, your risk is still low. I’m pretty confident if her mouth never touched your penis that you are going to be OK. The average time from infection to symptoms is 5.5 days so you are likely to know soon. What does the friction burn look like?

Terri

[hopeagainstherp]

Hi Terri,

Thanks for replying so quickly. The friction burn now (3 days out) looks kind of like long dark ring by the urethral opening. It covers an area of about a quarter inch and I can feel a bit of scabbing/crusting over it. It was noticeably red the morning after contact, so I knew that it was from the condom instead of from anything else. I do not think it bled at any point- just looked kind of what a rugburn would look like (but of course more sensitive given its location).

As a first outbreak, I’ve read that HSV-1 goes unnoticed sometimes. Would you expect that to happen?

[Terri Warren]

It can go unnoticed, but usually, a first infection with HSV 1 genitally does produce some symptoms. It is HSV 2, acquired in a person who has HSV 1, that has very few symptoms. It’s possible that you would acquire it without symptoms, but I’ll bet your would notice, giving how carefully you are likely looking.

Terri

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