Does anyone know if having protected sex can trigger a minor genital outbreak? I had sex this week end and today have had some itching and yellow crusty discharge. Ive also had some anal itching. This is horrible. UGH
Yeah, any damage to skin can trigger an outbreak! LUBE IS YOUR FRIEND!
Thanks...I don't understand the anal itching as we didn't have anal sex.
I am exactly the same. Anal itching and lesions around my anus but no anal sex. So strange.
Thanks. I don't know if I should call my dr to see if I should be on an immunosuppressive
medication
It's probably a good idea if it means you don't have outbreaks after sex!
Hi, I only get red bumps on my butt cheeks, legs, and back. I have been to planned parenthood and a dermatologist, both say these are not herpes. Although, I test positive for hsv1. Are your lesions on your butt/anus actual lesions or are they just bumps too? If just bumps, has your doctor confirmed they are herpes? If so, how? Visual or an actual swab confirmation?
Positive by blood only, I'm assuming.
Sex, whether protected or not, can be a potential trigger for some people. Lube apparently helps. Once you have a genital infection, the virus can potentially erupt anywhere in the boxer shorts region, so anal or butt lesions are possible and have nothing to do with anal sex.
Yes, blood test only.
Thanks. I knew you'd have an answer.
Lol! Yeah, first outbreaks typically occur at the site of infection, and once HSV becomes established in the sacral ganglia, whenever it reactivates, it travels outwards via a chosen nerve pathway to the surface, where it may or may not present with symptoms. Often, it takes the same or a similar pathway, so recurrences/shedding occur at or near the original site, but sometimes, for whatever reason, it can take a completely different pathway and outbreak elsewhere. The sacral ganglia is unfortunately connected via nerve pathways to the entire boxer shorts region (waist to upper thighs). On the plus side, regular skin cannot shed the virus without lesions (unlike the mucosal skin of the genitals, which can). I hate having the virus in my body, but it's rather interesting how it works!
This outbreak is acutally at the the site of infection, but not the entire site. I haven't had outbreaks other than at the original site of infection.
I'd just rather not know how this works. LOL Should I take another round of antiviral medication?
Whenever you feel a recurrence coming on or once you notice you are having one, and if it's something you'd rather avoid or cut short, you can do episodic therapy just for the recurrence. The CDC has treatment guidelines, so you can find the dosing regimen via their site.