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How Safe Is Taking Valtrex For Possibility Of Having HSV1?
Dear Doc,I am a 28 year old male that had unprotected oral sex approximatley 56 days ago and unprotected sex (vaginal) 17 days ago. Upon having unprotected oral sex, I began to have a slight irritating feeling at the tip of my penis in my urethra. The irritating feeling was mild for a couple of weeks and eventually went away. However, I did go to the Doctor's Office and gave a urine sample and culture that came back negative. I was given antibiotics just in case.
Upon having unprotected sex with my gf in which we had unprotected sex numerous times within a 5 year period, I began to get that irritating feeling back in my penis a day later. I continued to follow up with my doctor and two more cultures and urine samples were given. Eventually, the pain became a throbbing pain and felt as though it was spreading to the outside of my penis, no sores present. My doctor became concerned and said it's possible it could be genital herpes. He placed me on Valtrex (1gram, 2x a day) and said give it a shot. I have only taken six days worth of the Valtrex. The pain has gone down, not constant, but still present.
A blood test is being done to take a look at the antibodies in my blood. I advised the Doctor that I have had herpes, HSV1 cold sores and on my face (wrestling), thus my antibody level HSV 1 could be off.
My questions are as follows:
1. What is the chance of contracting HSV 1 genitally if I alrdy had antibodies within my body?
2. Since the Doctor placed me on Valtrex, would that eliminate the possibilities of developing lesions and/or sores that could be visible?
3. If I'm diagnoised with HSV1 genital herpes, what's the chances of spreading HSV1 genital herpes to my partner if she alrdy has been exposed to HSV1 (cold sores)?
4. What are your thoughts?
Thank You,
Upon having unprotected sex with my gf in which we had unprotected sex numerous times within a 5 year period, I began to get that irritating feeling back in my penis a day later. I continued to follow up with my doctor and two more cultures and urine samples were given. Eventually, the pain became a throbbing pain and felt as though it was spreading to the outside of my penis, no sores present. My doctor became concerned and said it's possible it could be genital herpes. He placed me on Valtrex (1gram, 2x a day) and said give it a shot. I have only taken six days worth of the Valtrex. The pain has gone down, not constant, but still present.
A blood test is being done to take a look at the antibodies in my blood. I advised the Doctor that I have had herpes, HSV1 cold sores and on my face (wrestling), thus my antibody level HSV 1 could be off.
My questions are as follows:
1. What is the chance of contracting HSV 1 genitally if I alrdy had antibodies within my body?
2. Since the Doctor placed me on Valtrex, would that eliminate the possibilities of developing lesions and/or sores that could be visible?
3. If I'm diagnoised with HSV1 genital herpes, what's the chances of spreading HSV1 genital herpes to my partner if she alrdy has been exposed to HSV1 (cold sores)?
4. What are your thoughts?
Thank You,
Mon, 16 Feb 2015
Hello. Thank you for writing to us
Antibodies to HSV type 1 does protect against HSV type 2 infection, which is usually the cause of Genital Herpes.
However, any type of HSV can cause genital herpes and it is not uncommon to have Genital herpes due to HSV type 1.
Your doctor gave you valacyclovir empirically and there was no confirmation whether the pain that you had was indeed due to herpes.
The dose of valacyclovir that was given to you would not completely abort an episode because the dose of valacyclovir is for 3 days in herpes but it would certainly tone down an episode of herpes.
Genital herpes is a local infection. Presence of ciriculating antibodies does not confer immunity to re-infection at a different site, therefore antibodies to HSV type 1 does not protect against Genital infection with HSV type 1.
Therefore, your girlfrined may still acquire Genital HSV type 1 even if she already has cold sores
Regards
Antibodies to HSV type 1 does protect against HSV type 2 infection, which is usually the cause of Genital Herpes.
However, any type of HSV can cause genital herpes and it is not uncommon to have Genital herpes due to HSV type 1.
Your doctor gave you valacyclovir empirically and there was no confirmation whether the pain that you had was indeed due to herpes.
The dose of valacyclovir that was given to you would not completely abort an episode because the dose of valacyclovir is for 3 days in herpes but it would certainly tone down an episode of herpes.
Genital herpes is a local infection. Presence of ciriculating antibodies does not confer immunity to re-infection at a different site, therefore antibodies to HSV type 1 does not protect against Genital infection with HSV type 1.
Therefore, your girlfrined may still acquire Genital HSV type 1 even if she already has cold sores
Regards
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