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What Are The Chances Of Getting Herpes Through Direct Contact?

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Posted on Sat, 1 Feb 2014
Question: What are the chances u can contract herpes under your lip by toucing someone private part w/ur hands not right away but after a few min or can you get it by putting your mouth on their penis thru their boxers if they have it or did i mostly likely get it another way
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Answered by Dr. Timothy Raichle (2 hours later)
Brief Answer: I would be happy to help you... Detailed Answer: Herpes comes in two varieties: 1. HSV-1 - typically associated with "cold sores" 2. HSV-2 - typically associated with genital sores It is basically the same infection but in two different locations. Also, HSV1 can appear in the genital area, and HSV2 can appear around the mouth. The common thing about these two areas are mucous membranes bordering areas of normal skin. In your picture, this is pretty clearly a "cold sore". Certainly you can pick it up from direct contact with an infected person who is "shedding" virus. This can occur even when there is not an active sore present. This cold sore could have been picked up from ANY of your prior intimate contacts. And yes, if you had direct contact with a genital sore through oral contact, then it can be transmitted in this way. It would be difficult to transmit the virus through hand contact and then touching your mouth. This is likely NOT how you got this cold sore. With recurrent outbreaks, you can treat it with Valtrex. You should also avoid contact when there is a visible sore so that you do not transmit it to others. I hope that this helps and good luck!
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Timothy Raichle

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Practicing since :1999

Answered : 1687 Questions

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What Are The Chances Of Getting Herpes Through Direct Contact?

Brief Answer: I would be happy to help you... Detailed Answer: Herpes comes in two varieties: 1. HSV-1 - typically associated with "cold sores" 2. HSV-2 - typically associated with genital sores It is basically the same infection but in two different locations. Also, HSV1 can appear in the genital area, and HSV2 can appear around the mouth. The common thing about these two areas are mucous membranes bordering areas of normal skin. In your picture, this is pretty clearly a "cold sore". Certainly you can pick it up from direct contact with an infected person who is "shedding" virus. This can occur even when there is not an active sore present. This cold sore could have been picked up from ANY of your prior intimate contacts. And yes, if you had direct contact with a genital sore through oral contact, then it can be transmitted in this way. It would be difficult to transmit the virus through hand contact and then touching your mouth. This is likely NOT how you got this cold sore. With recurrent outbreaks, you can treat it with Valtrex. You should also avoid contact when there is a visible sore so that you do not transmit it to others. I hope that this helps and good luck!