Last couple of questions (I swear): Why does genital HSV-1 shed less? Herpes meds and prescription?

[beautifullychaotic]

I was told that genital HSV-1 has less % of viral shedding, can someone tell me why that's the case? Or is it just how it is, no explanation? Also, if I finish my medication and I still have my outbreak, where do I go from there? Just contact my dr and have him prescribe me more? And with lymph node swelling in the groin area, any tips to help the pain with that?

[Juvia]

HSV-1 sits behind the ear, which is why it's 'homesite' as the mouth. It is a moist area where it can thrive that is closest. HSV-2 sits at the base of the spine, closer to the genital area. It has less likeliness of shedding, simply because of location.

[Juvia]

http://herpeslife.com/good-herpes-virus-bad-herpes-virus-the-truth-about-hsv1-hsv2/

[mr_hopp]

Hey again, BC!

 

No worries! You can ask as many questions as you have! :)

 

You're partially right, Juvia. :) When HSV-1's site of infection is the genitals, then it lays dormant at the base of the spine, not at the top of the spine. HSV-1 simply prefers the "climate" of the oral region (still mucous membrane, but not as warm and moist as the genitals), which is why it sheds less than genital HSV-2. (3-5% shedding for genital HSV-1; 15-30% for genital HSV-2.) Read this sheet for specific %s based on the herpes type and location:

http://bit.ly/h-opp-disclosure-handout

 

Here's more on viral shedding:

http://herpeslife.com/what-is-herpes-asymptomatic-viral-shedding/

 

As far as taking medication during an outbreak, medication generally tends to work best as you feel your herpes prodrome symptoms coming on but an outbreak hasn't shown up yet. It can extremely lessen the severity of the outbreak or avoid an outbreak altogether. After the outbreak is full on, it can tend to shorten the length of time the outbreak lasts (especially within the first year of having herpes), but once the outbreak has been around for a few days, it doesn't generally help much. But if you want to continue your medication and you run out, then yes, you would talk to your doctor to get a refill on your meds, just like any other medication.

 

Here's an article on herpes prodrome symptoms. Get to know your own! :)

http://herpeslife.com/herpes-prodrome-symptoms

 

I hope this helps!

[beautifullychaotic]

Yea that could be why my medication is not helping as much as I heard it should. I had symptoms of herpes for 9 days before I went to urgent care in so much pain and was told I needed to make a gyno appt because I had herpes. Once I first had pains, I contacted my gyno but they wouldn't bring me in for an appointment and just brushed off my symptoms as a yeast infection and sent me a prescription for cream. I used that cream for a few days and the pain only got worse. That's when I had my boyfriend bring me to Urgent Care and found out what it really was. So I had the outbreak for quite some time before I was actually able to take medication for it.

[Juvia]

Ok, cool. Good to know! I read up a lot on it, but, naturally, sometimes I misunderstand something. Some of the sites aren't fully credible, or what I am reading was written by a doctor and loose me.

 

Thanks