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

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

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.

Answered by Dr. Ashish Vilas Jawarkar

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ashish Vilas Jawarkar is a Pathologist who studies the causes and effects of diseases, primarily by examining laboratory samples of body tissues for diagnostic and forensic purposes. He plays a crucial role in accurate diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions, and supporting patient care through detailed laboratory analysis.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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.

Medically reviewed by Dr. K. Shobana
Published At December 29, 2022
Reviewed At October 9, 2023

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ashish Vilas Jawarkar is a Pathologist who studies the causes and effects of diseases, primarily by examining laboratory samples of body tissues for diagnostic and forensic purposes. He plays a crucial role in accurate diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions, and supporting patient care through detailed laboratory analysis.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. K. Shobana is a Dental Surgeon specializing in oral health and dental care. She is skilled in preventive dentistry and provides oral hygiene education. She can do restorative treatments such as fillings and crowns. She can handle periodontal problems such as gum diseases and periodontitis. She can do root canal treatment.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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

Education:

MD

Professional Bio:

Dr. Ashish Vilas Jawarkar is a Pathologist who studies the causes and effects of diseases, primarily by examining laboratory samples of body tissues for diagnostic and forensic purposes. He plays a crucial role in accurate diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions, and supporting patient care through detailed laboratory analysis.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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