Suppression and disclosure

[Gettingeducated2023]

I was Diagnosed with ghsv1 early april 2023 via genital swab after unprotected sex (along with oral) at the end of March with my boyfriend. I was Prescribed 1g valacyclovir for 1 week (which healed everything) until my results came back, which were positive for hsv1. The doctor prescribed 500mg valacyclovir daily as suppressive therapy but said it likely wouldn’t be necessary due to the low amount of outbreaks ghsv1 has. After the outbreak healed and I stopped the antivirals I was still continuously having leg pain, a tingling feeling on my butt and the backs of thighs, and itching on my labia for the rest of april and beginning of may (without sores) which was making me very paranoid because I didn’t know if I was starting to have another outbreak already, shedding, etc. I started taking the 500mg valacyclovir daily and all prodrome symptoms have since subsided. My question is:

Does taking an antiviral continuously after my first ghsv1 outbreak diminish/slow the amount of antibodies produced? Is it better to go off the antiviral all together so my body has a chance to build stronger antibodies now versus later?

I do not currently have a partner and am not sexually active to the stress of this situation so I pose no risk to a partner if I were to go off the antivirals.

[Terri Warren]

Taking daily antivirals immediately after a newly acquired infection can slow antibody development, yes, but you are basically getting covered about shedding with the meds for now. I think you could try going off antivirals but if you continue to have nerve pain and the meds stop it, I see no reason to stop taking antivirals.

Terri

[Gettingeducated2023]

Thank you so much! I asked this question to a couple providers and honestly they couldn’t give me an answer.

Do you know how much the antivirals can slow the antibody rate? For example, if data shows that after 2 years, shedding can be as low as 2% with ghsv1, would continuously taking antivirals for those two years put your shedding rate at 4%? 6%? Etc. Or would taking antivirals continuously prevent me from ever getting down to the 2% shedding rate?

Finally, and I know this is a heavily debated topic, but do you feel that disclosing to future partners that I have the cold sore virus is sufficient? Since transmission rates become so low, even lower than oral hsv1 transmission after a few years, disclosing for ghsv1 seems like it poses far more of a mental detriment for the diagnosed person than it poses a risk to a future partner.

Thank you for your information! reading your posts have definitely made me feel like I can get a confident grasp on this situation.

[Terri Warren]

Do you know how much the antivirals can slow the antibody rate? For example, if data shows that after 2 years, shedding can be as low as 2% with ghsv1, would continuously taking antivirals for those two years put your shedding rate at 4%? 6%? Etc. Or would taking antivirals continuously prevent me from ever getting down to the 2% shedding rate?
We don’t have that information, sorry

Finally, and I know this is a heavily debated topic, but do you feel that disclosing to future partners that I have the cold sore virus is sufficient? Since transmission rates become so low, even lower than oral hsv1 transmission after a few years, disclosing for ghsv1 seems like it poses far more of a mental detriment for the diagnosed person than it poses a risk to a future partner.
I think saying that you have the cold sore virus is different than saying you have cold sores. I think that would be inaccurate and a lie. But saying you have the virus may well be an OK to put this. There are different opinions about this, to be honest.

Thank you for your information! reading your posts have definitely made me feel like I can get a confident grasp on this situation.
Good!

Terri

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