HomeAnswersPathologyhsvWhat is genital HSV-1, and how do you manage it?

What is genital HSV-1, and how can it be treated?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. K. Shobana

Published At December 29, 2022
Reviewed AtOctober 9, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 28-year-old male with no notable medical conditions or abnormalities. I used to get cold sores on my mouth when I was young, but have not had it in many years (I assume HSV-1 since oral HSV-2 is rare and since, at that point, I was not sexually active). Strangely, last week I had an outbreak of genital HSV-1 (per the test results) and, before being tested and not realizing what it was, unfortunately, passed it on to my partner, who had never had cold sores and the virus before. Her genital outbreak also tested positive for HSV-1. I know it is rare, but rare implies that it does happen sometimes, and I must be one of those cases. Normally it is unlikely to pass genital HSV-1 to someone who has oral HSV-1, but since that did happen to me, am I more likely to similarly infect the genitals of someone who also has had oral HSV-1 in the past? Currently, I am on Venlafaxine (depression), Buspirone (anxiety), Lisdexamfetamine or Vyvanse (ADHD), Valacyclovir (temporary, for HSV-1 outbreak), Clyndomycin (for staphylococcus infection that occurred during flu-like sickness from the outbreak). Also, does this change the likelihood that I will infect someone who has never had the virus? Can I expect outbreaks in both places, or has it "moved"? Do I need to take any precautions (medication or otherwise) for myself or for any partner I may be in contact with in the future? What is recommended for genital HSV-1? You can provide any additional info that I did not specifically ask for. Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

All herpes viruses enter into latency after primary infection, establishing lifelong infection. From their latency, herpesviruses can be reactivated, which has been correlated with a weakening of a host’s immune defenses against the virus to cause various diseases. These diseases often involve viral shedding or are contagious, allowing the spread of a specific herpes virus within a population. Now with the Valacyclovir (Valacyclovir hydrochloride) that you are taking, we can expect control, but make sure your partner takes it as well. In the future, if you have an outbreak anywhere, make sure to get treated before having any contact with any partner. Hope this helps. Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Ashish Vilas Jawarkar
Dr. Ashish Vilas Jawarkar

Pathology

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