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Can Genital Herpes Be Transmitted Through Skin To Skin Contact?

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Posted on Mon, 5 Sep 2016
Twitter Sun, 4 Sep 2016 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 21 Sep 2016 Last reviewed on
Question : Good afternoon, doctor. Does genital herpes shed from the skin on the whole body, or just the mucous membranes? In other words, if I hug someone chest-to-chest, skin-to-skin, with no genital contact, and if I happen to be shedding the virus, will that person have a risk of catching it?
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (-4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No risk from skin-to-skin contact.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Genital herpes is only shed from mucus membranes. There is no risk of spreading it from a skin-to-skin hug where there is no genital contact.

I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3133 Questions

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Can Genital Herpes Be Transmitted Through Skin To Skin Contact?

Brief Answer: No risk from skin-to-skin contact. Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, Genital herpes is only shed from mucus membranes. There is no risk of spreading it from a skin-to-skin hug where there is no genital contact. I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if I can provide further information.