What's the risk ?

[Island_man1]

Hi nurse. Just a quick question. What are the risk that I might get some STD if the SP licks her fingers (to lubricate them) and rubbing the penis afterward, possibly touching the opening briefly? Thanks.

 

[Health Nurse]

Hi nurse. Just a quick question. What are the risk that I might get some STD if the SP licks her fingers (to lubricate them) and rubbing the penis afterward, possibly touching the opening briefly? Thanks.

Hi Island_man1

It can be difficult to work out the exact risk as there are so many different factors.

What I can do is look at the main points of your question and give some general information related to common STI.

To have a risk the person would need to have something and that something would need to be transmitted in the saliva.

The first one that comes to mind is Hepatitis B as it can be in the saliva. Not sure of exact risk as saliva has less hepatitis B in it than the blood. Hepatitis B is mainly in the blood, semen and vaginal fluid.

The good thing is that there is a vaccine that provides great protection against hepatitis B. It is free at an STI clinic or your local public health unit.

Link for information on hepatitis B.
http://www.liver.ca/hepatitis/hepatitis-b.aspx

Link for information on hepatitis B vaccine.
http://immunizebc.ca/diseases-vaccinations/hepatitis-b

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 is a common infection to have around the mouth. HSV type 1 will also shed in the saliva from time to time when the person does not have a cold sore. I am not sure how much of a risk this would be as the amount of HSV would be less than coming in contact with a sore and the HSV is going to the hand then the penis.

More information on HSV.
http://healthnurse.wordpress.com/fa...nsmitted-infections-sti/herpes-simplex-virus/

To answer your question I am unsure of the exact risk as it is something that has not been looked at before, but the above examples show that it is not the best way for the infection to pass.

To remove all doubt you can just use some lube rather than saliva.

HN
www.healthnurse.wordpress.com
www.stiresource.com
www.bccdc.ca

 

[Island_man1]

Thank you so much for the reply, nurse. It surprises me that you put the time and effort to answer all these questions here and promptly. It's really appreciated.

My main worry was Herpes. She only did that (wetting her fingers with her saliva) about 4 times during the hour. So it's not like her fingers were really wet with the saliva the whole time and she was also using lube from time to time. I know it's probably not the easiest way to contract HSV but sometimes I get the impression this virus is so easily contracted with the slightest contact with a person who has it. I noticed that you said HSV type 1 and I'm wondering if that means I shouldn't be worried about type 2 as a result of her using her saliva.... and that's if she has it to begin with.
I never go beyond mutual masturbation when I see an SP but seeing that the HSV virus can be transmitted even without intercourse scares the hell out of me especially being someone who suffers from anxiety and having this weird feeling at the tip of the penis isn't helping even though I have similar feeling sometimes when I ejaculate.
Thanks again for the reply.

 

[Health Nurse]

Most of the research about herpes (HSV) in the saliva has been done on Type 1. I think it is because Type I is most commonly found orally.

Type 1 prefers to be around the mouth and Type 2 prefers to be around the genitals, but both can be in either area. In the end they are not that different. If you have one or the other, in any area of your body, they would act/look the same way for you.

I found only one study that looked for some different viruses, including Type 2, in saliva. This study did not find HSV Type 2 in the saliva.

I don't think it is necessarily true that HSV is "so easily contracted with the slightest contact with a person who has it".
There are many couples where one has some type of herpes and their partner never gets signs/symptoms of having herpes.

In the end is it about what you are comfortable with. If the small chance of getting HSV from saliva worries you then it may be best to avoid saliva as a lubricant.

HN

 

[Island_man1]

Thanks again, nurse.