herpes treatment

[Anonymous]

Just anecdotes but three of my college friends got Herpes back in the 80s. After the initial outbreak it just became something to manage and they rarely had outbreaks. All of them had got married and had healthy kids and normal lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there I’m a women’s health NP and I spend an a LOT of time talking to people with new HSV diagnoses because a)it’s really common and b) the emotional impact is so huge. I’m sorry your daughter is dealing with this and the best thing she can do right now is educate herself because the more information she has the more she will realize that the stigma of HSV is really out of line with the medical implications.
In terms of daily suppressive or episodic (as needed) treatment it’s really a personal choice. But in my practice when somebody has a new diagnosis, I typically do offer them suppressive for the first year. After that it might be reasonable to see how often meds are needed based on frequency of symptoms.
But it’s really really really important that she understands this is not a dealbreaker in any aspect of her life. The hardest thing about it is that a lot of people have incorrect information about what it means to be diagnosed with HSV and the majority of people have no idea if they have been exposed or not because it’s very easy to manage the virus for a long time without having any symptoms. I wish you both the best.

Great comment, props to you and OP!

[Anonymous]

Zovirax pills or topical cream is the best treatment. I am a life long cold-sore sufferer and swear it was a game changer.

Everyone carries the herpes virus in their system. 3% of the population experience break outs. Some only once, some recurring.

[Anonymous]

^^ I know herpes simplex is different but essentially the virus responds well to the same treatments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

You probably still have it, its just dormant and you haven’t had an outbreak.

[Anonymous]

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

Not true.

I suffered from a severe case all my life. It became so bad I had it every 6-8 weeks. And it took up to 2 weeks each time to heal. Vacyclovir was helpless. It decreased severity, if I took it immediately after noticing first symptoms, but was unable to stop progress.

In February 2020 I purchased Horbäach DGL Licorice Chewable Tablets, 4000mg, 180 Count from Amazon and started talking every day for 8-9 months.

I had 3-4 very mild cases since then. One per year on average. I do not recall when was the last time as it was so long time ago.

There are some clinical published online if anyone interested. Here is one: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8290359/

[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’s a minor skin infection for people who are not severely immune-compromised.

OP, there is no need for a specialist. The treatment is either 500 mg of Valtrex once a day or 1 g 2x day at onset of an outbreak for 3-5 days, depending on how frequent her outbreaks are.

This is really not a significant health problem. It’s also a great opportunity to weed jacka$$es out of the dating pool. Do not let her experience this as stigmatizing—there is no need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Right - of course. But I'm looking for guidance on long term effects of daily antivirals? versus not taking daily, just taking if you feel an outbreak? Which is better?

No long term effects; entirely personal preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there I’m a women’s health NP and I spend an a LOT of time talking to people with new HSV diagnoses because a)it’s really common and b) the emotional impact is so huge. I’m sorry your daughter is dealing with this and the best thing she can do right now is educate herself because the more information she has the more she will realize that the stigma of HSV is really out of line with the medical implications.
In terms of daily suppressive or episodic (as needed) treatment it’s really a personal choice. But in my practice when somebody has a new diagnosis, I typically do offer them suppressive for the first year. After that it might be reasonable to see how often meds are needed based on frequency of symptoms.
But it’s really really really important that she understands this is not a dealbreaker in any aspect of her life. The hardest thing about it is that a lot of people have incorrect information about what it means to be diagnosed with HSV and the majority of people have no idea if they have been exposed or not because it’s very easy to manage the virus for a long time without having any symptoms. I wish you both the best.

It's really not that common.

[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’s a minor skin infection for people who are not severely immune-compromised.

OP, there is no need for a specialist. The treatment is either 500 mg of Valtrex once a day or 1 g 2x day at onset of an outbreak for 3-5 days, depending on how frequent her outbreaks are.

This is really not a significant health problem. It’s also a great opportunity to weed jacka$$es out of the dating pool. Do not let her experience this as stigmatizing—there is no need.

Um, it'll weed everyone out of the dating pool. I would never date someone with genital herpes. Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there I’m a women’s health NP and I spend an a LOT of time talking to people with new HSV diagnoses because a)it’s really common and b) the emotional impact is so huge. I’m sorry your daughter is dealing with this and the best thing she can do right now is educate herself because the more information she has the more she will realize that the stigma of HSV is really out of line with the medical implications.
In terms of daily suppressive or episodic (as needed) treatment it’s really a personal choice. But in my practice when somebody has a new diagnosis, I typically do offer them suppressive for the first year. After that it might be reasonable to see how often meds are needed based on frequency of symptoms.
But it’s really really really important that she understands this is not a dealbreaker in any aspect of her life. The hardest thing about it is that a lot of people have incorrect information about what it means to be diagnosed with HSV and the majority of people have no idea if they have been exposed or not because it’s very easy to manage the virus for a long time without having any symptoms. I wish you both the best.

It's really not that common.

Receipts?

No, I thought not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much PPs!

Yeah she's reeling from the emotions of it. She said it helped that I wasn't freaked out by it. I'm not happy for her of course, but I don't see there should be any stigma or shame about it.

I'm astounded by the statistics. I keep coming back to 20% of college students are positive for HSV? Because - I know it isn't totally sexually transmitted, but mostly it is - and I also know that not every college student has been sexually active. I think it's only 70%? So that would be about 1/4th of sexually active college kids have HSV? So it really is pretty common. Do they all know it? I read it is hard to know you are even a carrier unless you have an outbreak of it.

Statistics are interesting. But from what I’m reading here, OP, you could have it. And I guess I could too. Since we’re saying, it’s so common and a person could be symptomless and just be a carrier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much PPs!

Yeah she's reeling from the emotions of it. She said it helped that I wasn't freaked out by it. I'm not happy for her of course, but I don't see there should be any stigma or shame about it.

I'm astounded by the statistics. I keep coming back to 20% of college students are positive for HSV? Because - I know it isn't totally sexually transmitted, but mostly it is - and I also know that not every college student has been sexually active. I think it's only 70%? So that would be about 1/4th of sexually active college kids have HSV? So it really is pretty common. Do they all know it? I read it is hard to know you are even a carrier unless you have an outbreak of it.

Statistics are interesting. But from what I’m reading here, OP, you could have it. And I guess I could too. Since we’re saying, it’s so common and a person could be symptomless and just be a carrier.

Yes. 80% of people with genital heroes don’t know they have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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

You probably still have it, its just dormant and you haven’t had an outbreak.

The doctor tests for HPV, granted not all of them but the ones that cause cancer. SO I may have a dormant non cancer causing one or I destroyed a cancer causing one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Right - of course. But I'm looking for guidance on long term effects of daily antivirals? versus not taking daily, just taking if you feel an outbreak? Which is better?

No long term effects; entirely personal preference.

The long term effects are mental/emotional- she will need to tell every partner going forward and will need them to use protection at all times. Some men will not want to go downtown, which is their right.