Shedding transmission

[Flying]

I have herpes 2 but she does not. She likes to touch my penis while using a water based lubricant (obviously I enjoy it too). Assuming that NO sores are present only possible invisible shedding, can she pick up the invisible shedding cells and transmit them to any NON MUCOUS parts of her body or other parts of my body? (Such as back, legs, arms etc). In other words just normal skin.

I’ve read just a couple of web sites that discussed spreading via hands but everything I’ve read seems to be in regards to touching visible sores.

So what is the risk of spreading the shedding cells to non mucous parts of the body? And does the water based lubricant act as a “mucous” type that could facilitate shedding transmission?

[Terri Warren]

I have no concerns about transmitting HSV 2 to non-mucous membrane parts of the body where the skin is intact, none. The lubricant does not in any way facilitate transmission to these intact body parts, not at all.

Terri

[Flying]

Thank you for that reply. I was very concerned that the invisible shedding cells were so contagious that by simply touching them (by hand) one could pass the infection on easily in the absence of a mucous membrain.

Does washing the penis and gental area with soap and warm water prior to sex have any demonstrated success in temporarily eliminating or at least reducing the likelihood that shedding cells are on the skins surface?

As you can probably tell I’m very concerned about best practices in not transmitting. It’s really too bad that some type of “home testing” shedding kit or an formula that can be applied that would (for example) change color if shedding was detected. Too bad.

[Terri Warren]

We don’t know if washing the penis and genital area ahead of sex has any benefit but I would not count on it to reduce transmission. The best strategies for that are taking daily antiviral medicine and using condoms with sexual contact (oral and genital)

Terri

[Flying]

I read that the actual virus only survives about 10 seconds (I assume they mean on skin or without a mucous membrain surface). But what about the cells or whatever they call that which is being shed? Are those also viral cells and do they too only live a few seconds or are they something else that can survive longer?

Obviously I’m concerned about shedding and the ease of transmitting to her.

[Terri Warren]

Shedding does involve the actual virus. Herpes virus can likely live longer than 10 seconds off the body, but if it is on a cool dry surface it is not going to live very long and likely not in quantities sufficient to infect another person. I think you may be overestimating the ability of the virus in these situations to infect your partner. Your caution is appreciated, but perhaps overstated.

Terri

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