Question:
I am getting some contradictory information from a lot of Web sites.

Some, like this one, go so far as to say "Do not share clothes, towels or wash cloths."
http://www.herpesdoctor.com/node/24

I know I have read material by doctors who said they have never heard of any documented case where herpes was spread by some third, inanimate object, directly contradicting the clothes-sharing bit.

Still others, like this one, poo-poo the idea of spreading it from genitals to hand to another's genitals.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/STD/messages/3360.html

What gives?

And does anyone else feel like that first article is terrifying? Spreading hsv on shared clothes? Are we that "contagious?" I didn't think of myself as a biological weapon until I read that fact sheet! There's definitely no way I will ever convince anyone to have sex with me once they read that.

Answer:
imagine what goes on in a dressing room.
i think its prob over stating some things, sure sharing underwear is a diff story, but wearing someones clean pair of jeans or tshirt isnt going to give you herpes.

and i said this before in a diff post but .com websites are a horrible sorce for medical info. if you want to actually belive what you are reading, try to find sites with .gov/ .org/ .edu
the thing with .com, is no matter how helpfull the person writing wants to be, they are not a creditable source and, can just write these kinds of things with no one 2nd guessing it. but the other sites, will say who the source is.

and im not going to even get started with that doctor guy forum place, he has some issues we have seen some of his links here before stating its not herpes, then it is, then it isnt...

Answer:
It is a .org, at least!

I think diagnosing stuff online is a bad idea, but is this guy irreputable in terms of how it's transmitted, likelihood of transmission, whatnot?

His C.V. looks pretty good.

Answer:
As I read his answers on medhelp, I am taken aback by some of his urgings AGAINST testing.

But he seems to have a solid reputation. I googled his name + the words "reckless" "careless" "dangerous" "understate" and "underestimate," and I could find no online presence of any of his detractors. What issues are you concerned about in his advice?

Please tell me your reservations -- it feels like we can't trust any "experts" on this. My own doc gave me ZERO advice for managing the risk of transmission, my source partner's doc was telling him you can't get or spread herpes absent symptoms, and I could find only one clinic in my 1-million-plus metro area that can run a blood test that differentiates between type 1 and type 2. Forget Western Blot.

I'm moving to a country w/ socialized health care ASAP so at least I'm not paying out of my nose for horse sh*t care.

Anyway, let me know about your reservations about Handsfield.

Answer:
if i described something to you, with out showing you it, how accuratly could you tell me what i was describing to you? now realize that not everyone has the talent as some writers to make you picture what your reading. and he can just diagnose people from reading things, thats why his little question/answer thing isnt the best.
doctors arent always the most informed thats why its up to you to find out the info from reliable sources. (mind you, im not even sure what kind of doctor that guy is- for all you know he might be a podiatrist)

Answer:
Yeah, I totally agree that a description of symptoms isn't a good way to diagnose something.

As for the guy, he appears to be a prof in U of Wash med school, division of allergy and infectious diseases, with a research emphasis on STDs. This is from the faculty Web site (http://depts.washington.edu/daid/faculty/handsfield.htm) :

"As director of the STD Control Program for Public Health - Seattle & King County, Dr. Handsfield's research emphasizes clinical and epidemiologic aspects of STDs, especially in relation to strategies for prevention and control."

I'm not saying medhelp.org is a good source of primary care, or that they can replace an in-person evaluation with a doctor (though I'm having more doubts knowing what docs have told patients here about hsv!). However, for information on herpes that isn't symptom-specific or patient-specific (stats on infection and transmission risks, explanation of the different tests, public health realities) I tend to think his answers are as credible as any. Unless the guy answering those questions is an imposter.

Do you think the fact that he responds to online descriptions of symptoms makes him questionable to begin with?