herpes treatment

[Anonymous]

My 20 year old daughter was just diagnosed with genital herpes at an urgent care and has been started on medication.
She is devastated and reeling.
I don't know anything about this illness. I just read that 20% of college students have genital herpes?

I want to be sure she is getting the best advice and most up to date information.
Should she see her regular gyn (whom she doesn't like) or are there people in the DC area who specialize in treatment for this?

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry she is going though this, but it talks about her trust in you when she shared this news. Some people have it just once and never again though they cont being carriers, some people get outbreaks often and usually are on Valcyclovir daily to prevent it.It could be caused by either HSV1 or 2-she can get tested now as her titers are probably the highest one first outbreak. Is your family prone to oral mouth sores?

I dont have genital herpes but have only had a mouth sore once in my life and never again.

[Anonymous]

Yes, half of us in the family get canker sores, but never her to be honest. And never in the genital area...
We will get the results of which type of herpes it is soon, I think. She doesn't have the test results definitively yet but her provider said she was 100% confident these were herpes symptoms.

[Anonymous]

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/18/well/herpes-treatment-stigma.html

Those who contract HSV-1 may develop blisters on or around their mouths or, in some cases, on their genitals. HSV-2, the other predominant strain, is usually characterized by one or more lesions around the genitals or the rectum. In the United States, around one in six people between the ages of 14 and 49 has genital herpes, and over half of adults have oral herpes.

If it is this common, why isn't it more routinely tested for?

[Anonymous]

Kudos to you for being supportive! It will make a difference for her now and long term.

There are a lot of HSV support groups, online and IRL. Here’s a start:
https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/herpes-support-groups/#:~:text=Online%20Support%20Communities,fear%2C%20shame%2C%20&%20stigma!


Treatment is very good now. She will do great.

[Anonymous]

Other than anti-virals (such as Valtrex) there is really nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/18/well/herpes-treatment-stigma.html

Those who contract HSV-1 may develop blisters on or around their mouths or, in some cases, on their genitals. HSV-2, the other predominant strain, is usually characterized by one or more lesions around the genitals or the rectum. In the United States, around one in six people between the ages of 14 and 49 has genital herpes, and over half of adults have oral herpes.

If it is this common, why isn't it more routinely tested for?

It doesn’t kill anyone (unless it’s actually causing Alzheimer’s) and isn’t curable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other than anti-virals (such as Valtrex) there is really nothing.

There are innovative drugs for HPV in clinical trials right now, so we should have something on the horizon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/18/well/herpes-treatment-stigma.html

Those who contract HSV-1 may develop blisters on or around their mouths or, in some cases, on their genitals. HSV-2, the other predominant strain, is usually characterized by one or more lesions around the genitals or the rectum. In the United States, around one in six people between the ages of 14 and 49 has genital herpes, and over half of adults have oral herpes.

If it is this common, why isn't it more routinely tested for?

It doesn’t kill anyone (unless it’s actually causing Alzheimer’s) and isn’t curable.

HPV can lead to cervical, anal and oral cancers, and are deadly. While some strains are low risk, to say it isn't deadly is naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than anti-virals (such as Valtrex) there is really nothing.

There are innovative drugs for HPV in clinical trials right now, so we should have something on the horizon.

Valtrex is the only drug that treats HSV 1 and 2. To confirm the diagnosis your daughter should seek antibody testing for both HSV 1 and 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/18/well/herpes-treatment-stigma.html

Those who contract HSV-1 may develop blisters on or around their mouths or, in some cases, on their genitals. HSV-2, the other predominant strain, is usually characterized by one or more lesions around the genitals or the rectum. In the United States, around one in six people between the ages of 14 and 49 has genital herpes, and over half of adults have oral herpes.

If it is this common, why isn't it more routinely tested for?

It doesn’t kill anyone (unless it’s actually causing Alzheimer’s) and isn’t curable.

HPV can lead to cervical, anal and oral cancers, and are deadly. While some strains are low risk, to say it isn't deadly is naive.

We are not talking about HPV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than anti-virals (such as Valtrex) there is really nothing.

There are innovative drugs for HPV in clinical trials right now, so we should have something on the horizon.

HPV is not HSV

[Anonymous]

your body can fight off HPV--I had it but not anymore, I dont know if your body can fight off HSV -as of right now it is believed to stay dormant in your system forever

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than anti-virals (such as Valtrex) there is really nothing.

There are innovative drugs for HPV in clinical trials right now, so we should have something on the horizon.

HPV is genital warts, HSV is herpes. You are getting them confused.

[Anonymous]

Her gyn ought to be sufficient. She needs guidance on best practices not to spread it to others. Sorry