Reply To: Oral HSV-2

[dcquestion]

Thanks you, Terri. First, let me say that you’re providing a much needed service and should be commended for your efforts.

To answer your question, yes I’ve thought about antiviral therapy. In fact I requested it from my primary care physician who would not give it me until verifying via swab test that the cold sores on my face were caused by HSV2. So I had to wait to get another cold sore, which has since happened and verified to be HSV2 so now I’ll likely start a suppressive antiviral.

As a follow up, how do I know definitely whether my HSV2 is limited to oral or whether I’m also infected genitally. I’ve read you tell people that once you’re infected orally you’re vaccinated against genital infection. I’d very much like to know whether that’s the case with my HSV2 or not as it’s fairly significant in understanding transmission risk. My sexual encounters around the time of the infection were both oral and vaginal sex.

Thanks!