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What Are The Chances Of STD Transmission Through Skin To Skin Contact?

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Posted on Mon, 9 Feb 2015
Question: Hello Doctor, On 8/5/2014, I, regretfully, went to a massage parlor. She gave me a hand job, twice, and then wiped me with a hot towel afterwords (two times). I sucked her breast for around 30 sec or so, then I felt some secretion (salty, like what you feel from a sore), but the light was so dim i could not tell if that was from lesion or something else. However, I felt that the nipple has some bumpy things when I was sucking (might be the nature of the nipple, but I am not sure).

I did an STD check 20 days later. Everything was negative, except HSV-1, which popped up positive (Igg value > 5.0)
Then, I did three additional STD's, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and 16 weeks post encounter. All negative but HSV-1.

I used to get some slight cold sores before. Hard to remember, but they were not at all on any of my major concerns.

Then, after this encounter by 3-4 weeks, I got what I believe to be a very tiny sore in my nose (it might have been another thing too, can't tell).

However, after 8-9 weeks, I got a major outbreak on my lower cheek. Then, 4 weeks later, I got another major outbreak, on upper lip. Finally, 5 days ago, (i.e. after 5 weeks from the old outbreak) I got another major outbreak on the lower lip, and a smaller on in the middle of the lower lip).

I have two questions:

1. Did I contracted HSV-1 due to this encounter or i used to have it before?
Unfortunately, the first STD I did was the one 20 days after the encounter. I asked a couple of doctors. Two said it is hard to tell. The other tow said it is unlikely since 20 days would be too soon for the blood test to show it. What do you think? I am really stressed out about it to hell.

2. I am also very, very afraid about the risk of HPV (NOT HSV, HPV - human papillomavirus), due to this incident. I am married and have a child. I do not want to spread any thing to my wife. I noticed some very tiny/small bumps on my penis (head) some tiny bumps on the shaft (I used not to look into my penis very carefully before, but now I do, as I became paranoid from STD's). I went to a dermatologist, she said it is hard to tell, since they are too tiny, if they are HPV or not. She said if they grow come back, as HPV tends to grow. Their size has been the same for around 2 months or so...

However, the doctor told me that the nature of the encounter is high risk for HPV, given the fact that the massage parlor works with many men, as she said. (But there as no mount-to-genital genital-to-mouth of any sort. Just two hand jobs and sucking the breast). Also, I am afraid of the towels, could they carry the HPV virus from previous customer (but they look hot - and I assume clean - but how knows). In addition, in the second hand job she gave me, she used less oil and I felt strong friction with her hand for a while, then she used additional oil. Does that increase the risk?

Am I at risk of HPV? Is it serious? I did not read about HPV until late, when I had sex with my wife for more than 3 or 4 months, so what could I do ?

We are planning a child soon, is there any complication with this?
I also heard that the virus can stay for long in the body with no symptoms. So, if my wife did a PAP smear test and is negative, that means I did not contract HPV (given that 5 months passed this encounter, and I am having unprotected sex with her) ?

Please Please Please help me. I am so desperate and very very stressed mentally. Thank you so much.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Get wife tested for pap smear.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for query.I Dr Bharatesh D Basti answering your query.
Herpes (hsv1& hsv2) and HPV can be transmitted by skin to skin contact, or by intercourse or by kiss.
As there is skin contact there are possibilities of transmission of both.

Usually Herpes IGG antibodies appear after 2 weeks exposure and stays positive. It may be due to this exposure or earlier exposure .It is difficult to say unless you get the escort tested for herpes.

HPV transmission is possiblemy modes described. As you had intercourse with wife for days to months post incident, There is nothing to worry as you would have transmitted hpv if infected.The high rusk strains are few .More common ones are benign strains.

So do not become anxious.
You can get a pap smear test, and herpes test too done for wife.
Consult your doctor if HPV vaccine can be given to to your wife.
The lesions on genitals may or may not be warts.
You can get back with clear photos of lesions for clarification.

You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti
Dermatologist and venereologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (21 minutes later)
Hi Doctor,
Thank you for your reply.

I did not get what you meant regarding HPV. Is there a high risk of contracting it from handjob described, towel or breast sucking?

If I do not show symptoms, and my wife PAP smear is OK 5 months post exposure, can I assume I am OK and I did not get HPV?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (46 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Low risk of transmission.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.

Hand job ,breast sucking, skin to skin contact are at risk for transmission.The towel contact may not be much significant.Not all contact can lead to HPV transmission.She may be free from Infection too.The risk is low from this episode.

HPV infection can remain asymptomatic.Wr cannot be sure you are not infected.Anyway Many strains are of no risk.

If the PAP smears come negative you can be happy that she has not got infected.

You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (54 minutes later)
Thank you Dr. for the great clarification.

Two last questions.
1-If the PAP is negative, (the one 5 months post exposure), and since the infection might be asymptomatic, then how long should she wait to do another PAP test, to be on the safe side?

6 months? a year? two years? three years?

2-They recommend a PAP every 3 years for women her age (25 years old), so should we consider doing PAP more often, given that I have been exposed to some risk due to this encounter?

I highly appreciate your great help and support
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
After 6 months .

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.

Yes if PAP test is negative , there are rare chances to go undetected by test .
So you can get retested after 6 months if high risk just to allay anxiety.Moreover there is possibility of conception as desired.
Otherwise every 3 years is OK for young women.
You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (1 hour later)
"So you can get retested after 6 months if high risk just to allay anxiety.Moreover there is possibility of conception as desired."

Sorry Dr. Bharatesh, I did not get what do you mean by "Moreover there is possibility of conception as desired."

Do you meant that is necessary or recommended to do the test after 6 months? or just stick to the 3 years recommended cycle of testing?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
3 years better as no risk in your case.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.

Your are right that routinely pap smear testing is done every 3 years for females > 21 years.
If high risk then it may be repeated after 6 months, or 1 or 2 year.It depends on clinician.
As you desire for child you can go for PAP testing after 6 months just to relieve you from anxiety.

I do not see need to repeat again as there is no risk.

HPV DNA testing if available can be done.It identifies the strain too.

You can get back for clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti

Dermatologist

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 1764 Questions

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What Are The Chances Of STD Transmission Through Skin To Skin Contact?

Brief Answer: Get wife tested for pap smear. Detailed Answer: Hi Thank you for query.I Dr Bharatesh D Basti answering your query. Herpes (hsv1& hsv2) and HPV can be transmitted by skin to skin contact, or by intercourse or by kiss. As there is skin contact there are possibilities of transmission of both. Usually Herpes IGG antibodies appear after 2 weeks exposure and stays positive. It may be due to this exposure or earlier exposure .It is difficult to say unless you get the escort tested for herpes. HPV transmission is possiblemy modes described. As you had intercourse with wife for days to months post incident, There is nothing to worry as you would have transmitted hpv if infected.The high rusk strains are few .More common ones are benign strains. So do not become anxious. You can get a pap smear test, and herpes test too done for wife. Consult your doctor if HPV vaccine can be given to to your wife. The lesions on genitals may or may not be warts. You can get back with clear photos of lesions for clarification. You can get back for any clarification. Thank you Dr Bharatesh D Basti Dermatologist and venereologist