[Question #8996] Genital HSV-1 and menstrual period
37 months ago
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I have a primary genital HSV-1 infection, discovered through a severe first outbreak on June 18 2022, following sexual intercourse with a known partner who had a small cold sore on his lips and ignored it. I am on birth control and coincidentally, when the symptoms appeared I was also on my last two days of that month’s pill. Meaning, I stopped the pill on Tuesday, and then on Thursday I had prodrome symptoms together with my period. Friday I couldn’t walk anymore from the itch/burning/pain and Saturday a gyn-clinic clinically diagnosed me with Herpes.
I am now about to get my period again, and I have a persistent itch (which is not Bacterial Vaginosis or Yeast infection because I tested for it) -- So I am wondering: is it possible that genital HSV-1 flare ups be triggered by menstrual periods like for genital HSV-2, or not because generally people with genital HSV-1 have one or less recurrences per year?
37 months ago
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
37 months ago
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37 months ago
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
37 months ago
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36 months ago
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A) According to Dr. Christine Johnson's latest presentation, Genital HSV-1 shedding at 3 months out is 7% (or 25 days in a year right?) and at 2 years 1.3% (4-5 days in a year).
B) As per statistics on transmission rates, there are none in relation to genital HSV-1. What we have is in relation to genital HSV2; from positive female to male that would be a transmission rate of 4% if no preventive measure is taken ( 4 uninfected men out of a 100 would get it). 2% if Condoms or meds are taken. 1% if both condoms & meds are taken. Can we can infer that for HSV-1 the transmission rate is lower?
3) On disclosure:
I am with you that disclosure in the case of GHSV1 is less about transmission and more about trust, and I understand that's an individual call. But then I wonder: oral sex is sex, so why don't professionals call oral herpes an STI? It's absolutely enraging that the few percentage of people who experience a genital outbreak have to carry the social and emotional burden of the diagnosis, while those who are aware they have oral HSV-1 (half the country) spread it around freely because they get to call it "cold sores", and therefore held to a different moral standard.
It's outright unfair and makes makes me feel less inclined to disclose my genital HSV-1 status in a one-night stand situation (given 3 months will have gone by, no symptoms are shown, and condom/dental dam is properly used). Rant aside, my question here would be:
Isn't it less likely that as a female genital HSV1 positive, I could pass on HSV-1 to a partner's oral or genital area, than it is for someone with Oral HSV-1 (with or without an outbreak) to pass it to a negative partner's genitals?
Thank you, and looking forward to meeting you one day.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
36 months ago
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