Question:
My husband and I are using donor sperm to conceive since he is infertile. We have a known donor who's wife has genital herpes. If we are not having any skin to skin contact (he's sending it overnight delivery from across the country), and assuming he is infected, can herpes be spread to me through the semen sample? Thanks in advance.

Answer:
herpes can be spread through body fluid.

""The virus starts multiplying in the nerves. It can then get into body fluids, such as saliva, semen or vaginal fluids. This is called shedding. There are no symptoms during this stage, but the virus can be spread during this time.""

Answer:
Thanks for your reply. Bummer :( He had testing done on Monday to see if he has the virus. He's never had any symptoms. Waiting for the results. Fun times. lol Thanks again.

Answer:
herpes can be spread through body fluid.

""The virus starts multiplying in the nerves. It can then get into body fluids, such as saliva, semen or vaginal fluids. This is called shedding. There are no symptoms during this stage, but the virus can be spread during this time."" wtf
i never knew that

why does everyone run around yelling 'skin-to-skin contact' then?
if it can be in the body fluids it's essentially a fuckin free for all..

so so sooooo lame

Answer:
how do you think people get it from sharing drinks, and straws and such? its from the saliva.
your body sheds the cells, and the cells end up in your saliva, semen, etc etc- prob cant live in the urine as it would be to acidic.

and cause they arent educated? im guessing.

Answer:
but if its a skin disease and the outbreak is on the skin, how are the cells getting into my semen?

i've thought about it so much and the whole thing doesnt get any better with time

in fact, the more i seem to learn about herpes, the less i wish i knew

and i was almost secure in thinking that if i found a compatable girl with internal outbreaks, where my outbreaks are covered by a condom, that we'd be able to operate almost normally without much fear of extra transmission...

but now her juices can get me too..

fawwwwwwwk
i hate you herpes

Answer:
Generally, the herpes virus is not considered to be spread by body fluids such as blood, saliva, sperm and vaginal fluids. However, along with heat, friction and contact these fluids do create the perfect environment for the virus to be spread.

The herpes virus, once contracted, does not naturally co-exist in body fluids like some viruses do. For example, HIV and Hepatitis C are blood-borne viruses and can be spread by blood transmission. Hepatitis B can be spread through semen, vaginal fluids, saliva, blood, and urine and most flu viruses are 'air-borne' and can be spread by coughing or breathing the virus particles into the air.

The herpes virus is typically spread by direct skin-to-skin contact and, although body fluids can assist in transferring the virus, they are not the source of the transmission.

You may find this article from MediResource helpful...

The virus that causes genital herpes can be spread when it is active in the body. Some people have symptoms, such as herpes blisters, when the virus is active. These blisters are usually on the genitals but can be in the mouth and other areas of the body as well, such as the thighs, buttocks, and anal area. Other people may have no symptoms, but the active virus may still be present on the skin and other body areas (such as the rectal area and fluids from the penis and vagina), and can be passed on to others.

Regular skin - skin on the hand, for example - is protected against all but the most massive invasion because of a natural barrier on the skin called keratin. Keratin is waxy and strong. Just as it repels water, it repels herpes virus particles. Unless the keratin is torn, in a cut for instance, the virus cannot get to an epithelial cell (the type of cells that make up the skin). In mucous membranes, however, like those lining the mouth, eye, and genital area, the barrier is very thin, and the epithelial cells are very near the skin surface. This is where access is easiest.

To transfer the infection:

• one person needs to have an active infection with herpes

• there must be friction for heat and for removal of infected cells from the surface of the infected person

• there must be moisture for easy travel of the virus and to prevent drying

• there must be contact with exposed epithelial cells of another susceptible person

It's important to keep in mind that people can have an active, contagious herpes infection without any symptoms or visible sores. This is called viral shedding, and it causes up to 70% of new infections with genital herpes.

Thus, genital herpes tends to be sexually transmitted. Other types of transmission are possible but not usual. Most friction-, moisture-, and heat-producing contact between 2 people involving the skin of the genitals is sexual. Herpes simplex can be transmitted, for example, from a penile sore to a vagina. However, transmission of genital herpes does not actually require genital penetration, and it can be transmitted even when there are no visible sores. Sexual contact may include a nongenital sore contacting a genital target.

In other words, herpes may be transmitted from the source partner's mouth to the other partner's vagina, or from mouth to penis, penis to mouth, finger to penis, penis to anus, or any other combination. The only requirements are infected cells and exposure to new cells belonging to a new, susceptible person, along with heat and moisture.

These requirements are also met in a variety of contact sports. Herpes simplex virus does not care if sex is happening. Sure, herpes likes sex, but sex is only one type of contact sport that generates heat, moisture, and friction-based skin-to-skin contact. Herpes can be spread during wrestling, rugby, or any other contact sport that exposes a new susceptible host to infectious virus, and thus provides the new environmental opportunities the virus constantly seeks to restart its reproductive cycle in a new host.

Stephen Sacks, MD, FRCPC, with revisions by the MediResource clinical team Hope this helps ;)

Shenda

Answer:
By law, if you have genital herpes you are not allowed to donate sperm (via a Sperm Bank in the US).

In order to comply with tissue bank licensing regulations, we cannot accept donor applicants who have been exposed to or infected with HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HTLV, syphilis, genital herpes, or genital warts. References:

http://www.thespermbankofca.org/spermdonor.html
http://www.sperm1.com/sbny/donor.html

These sites may be worth contacting to find out why genital herpes is considered a risk factor here.

Shenda