[Question #7213] Question

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58 months ago
Hi my partner and I both have HSV 1 he has had it orally for years and I have had it genitally for years. I just recently had a mild genital outbreak. Since we both have the same strain can we reinfect one another in a different location or are we ok because we have the same virus? Do we need to not have sex when he has a cold sore or if I have an outbreak or is it ok because we have the same virus? 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
58 months ago
Once you have HSV in one location on your body, it is extremely unlikely that you would get it in a new location.  If I were in your situation, I wouldn't give this a second thought. 

Terri
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58 months ago
Thank you! 
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58 months ago
Thank you so much I really appreciate it!
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
58 months ago
You are most welcome

Terri
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58 months ago
Hi Terri sorry last question is it common for an HSV 1 outbreak to go away and Then come right back. I had two sores externally that went away and now I have another inside. I never took Valtrex but wondering if I should. This hasn’t happened in 20 years. My daughter had a cold sore and I’m not sure if this could trigger this. I did get the lesions tested and they were confirmed HSV-1 and HSV-2 is negative. 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
58 months ago
Yes, it does happen that one part of one outbreak will begin, fade, and another begin.  A cold sore would not trigger a genital outbreak in you.

Terri
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58 months ago
Thank you Terri :(. I am going to try the Valtrex for this. Thank you. 
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
58 months ago
You are most welcome.  Don't hesitate to return if you have further questions.  I think Valtrex will really help.  You might want to take it for five days, just to really hit the outbreak, and the dose for outbreaks is 500 mg twice a day.

Terri
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