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Hello, hope you are doing well. I was diagnosed with Ghsv1 (f23) in September 2022. I have a few questions I was hoping you could answer.
A.Prodrome
– Is there a difference between prodrome itch vs. regular body itch?
– Does it feel more like a yeast infection itch where it’s constant?
– If I were to have sex and then experience prodrome a day or 2 later, would they be at an increased risk?
B.Shedding/Transmission
– I’ve heard we shed in the boxer area. I have heard women shed from the labia, vagina, cervix, and anus symptomatically and asymptomatically. Does this mean that if I touched my inner thigh or buttcheek without lesions, there would be no transmission risk?
– I have also heard that if you have GHSV1 that after about 2 yrs we shed about 4 days a yr. If I were to have an outbreak would that start me back to shedding more frequently or would it stay the same at 4 days a yr
– If someone were to finger me and then touch themselves is this a transmission risk? Or if I touched myself and then them would that be a risk?
– do condoms do anything?
-Do you still think G2G transmissions is rare outside of outbreak?
C.Outbreaks
– To my knowledge, I’ve only had one outbreak. I know that most sores are sort of raised but flat. They are normally raised and if they blister will have a white sore appear. I know that bumps will appear for ingrown or clogged pores which normally have white heads at the top. I’d really like to not have to go to the doctor for every bump I see as well as not freak out when it isn’t that serious. (hope what I am saying makes sense)
D.Medicine
– I know that some say for GHSV1 that antivirals are not effective. Is this something that you believe to be true? Do antivirals not help to reduce transmission risk?
E.Hygiene
– Do I need to start taking showers instead of baths? Do I need to have separate towels and cloth just like I do razors? Do I need a new towel and cloth after each bath?I’m looking forward to your response.
Thanks so much! -
– Is there a difference between prodrome itch vs. regular body itch?
No – an itch is an itch
– Does it feel more like a yeast infection itch where it’s constant?
No, it is intermittent
– If I were to have sex and then experience prodrome a day or 2 later, would they be at an increased risk?
pOssibly
B.Shedding/Transmission
– I’ve heard we shed in the boxer area. I have heard women shed from the labia, vagina, cervix, and anus symptomatically and asymptomatically. Does this mean that if I touched my inner thigh or buttcheek without lesions, there would be no transmission risk?
correct
– I have also heard that if you have GHSV1 that after about 2 yrs we shed about 4 days a yr. If I were to have an outbreak would that start me back to shedding more frequently or would it stay the same at 4 days a yr
No, you would still be at the 4 days at 2 years mark– If someone were to finger me and then touch themselves is this a transmission risk? Or if I touched myself and then them would that be a risk?
No, hands are not a method of transmission
– do condoms do anything?
condoms reduce transmission from females to males by 65% or HSV 2 – they are likely as effective for HSV 1 transmision
-Do you still think G2G transmissions is rare outside of outbreak?
No, I think they are common between outbreaks
C.Outbreaks
– To my knowledge, I’ve only had one outbreak. I know that most sores are sort of raised but flat. They are normally raised and if they blister will have a white sore appear. I know that bumps will appear for ingrown or clogged pores which normally have white heads at the top. I’d really like to not have to go to the doctor for every bump I see as well as not freak out when it isn’t that serious. (hope what I am saying makes sense)
HSV lesions usually start as a bump, then a water blister, then they ulcerate and then either scab or just fill in, depending on where they are
D.Medicine
– I know that some say for GHSV1 that antivirals are not effective. Is this something that you believe to be true? Do antivirals not help to reduce transmission risk?
Because shedding and transmission of HSV 1 is so uncommon, we honestly don’t know the benefit of also taking HSV meds.
E.Hygiene
– Do I need to start taking showers instead of baths? Do I need to have separate towels and cloth just like I do razors? Do I need a new towel and cloth after each bath?
No, but we like people with HSV to use their own towel and razor – you don’t need a new towel with each shower or bath, no.Terri
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– So I saw that you said you no longer think that G2G transmission is no longer rare outside of an outbreak. Is this because you have started to see cases of this happening, or is it something else like people having outbreaks and not noticing?
When we do research on this topic, we know that the vast majority of transmissions occur when the infected person has no lesions. But this is for HSV 2. HSV 1 is less infectious– I have not had to disclose and I am still trying to wrap my head around the whole process. I am concerned because my doctor said that I did not have to disclose, however, I am still on the fence about it. Could you give me your input on this and what I could say to someone when disclosing so that I talk about transmission and the risk because it is GHSV1?
It depends on how long you’ve had it. At two years out, you would be shedding on 4 days out of the year. If you are having sex with someone casually and they are using condoms and STD’s have never been discussed, I’m not clear that you need to disclose. And if you are having sex with anyone who gets cold sores, they are already infected so disclosure is not necessary but you could.Bumps
– What you said about the sores makes sense. My thought process is that if I take the larger dosage when I see the bump and it doesn’t change within at least 3 days and stays the same that it is most likely not a herpes sore. Would I be wrong for assuming this?
That’s probably accurate-Have you ever heard of female patients in general getting small cysts after their herpes diagnosis?
I have had these small cysts before but I have had a few, like 2 in the past few months.
NoBirth Control/Condoms:
-I was on birth control right up until I realized the sores weren’t getting any better from my first outbreak. I was on it to regulate my period but I was scared to take it when I learned that it may cause me outbreaks. Have you heard of this ever?
Not really, though women describe outbreaks related to hormones in various ways sometimes – too much, too little, it varies.
My birth control is lo loestrine FE and it is a low-dose pill. In m head, it wouldn’t bother me because the hormones are not that high dosage so I thought it wouldn’t effect me. If you know anything please let me know.
NopeTerri
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I think if you are taking a daily antiviral at the appropriate dose, the risk of you transmitting is really very low. But your partner MUST buy in to some very small degree of risk. You can only do so much. But keep in mind, there are other STI’s to worry about here besides herpes, right?
“Worth the risk” is too subjective for me.Terri
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