Navigating Herpes: Understanding Variants, Classifications, and Communication
Whenever it comes to herpes, everyone loves to take sides: STD vs. STI, HSV-1 vs. HSV-2, and oral vs. genital. But how often do we ever talk about the variance in classification and presentation?
Before this comment party gets started, no, I’m not including specific statistics for HSV-1 (oral or genital) and HSV-2 in this post, as it defeats my underlying intentions.
First Episode: AKA the initial outbreak. Typically occur within 4 days of transmission, but can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks. Yields greater viral shedding than recurrent outbreaks.
Recurrent: Those symptomatic outbreaks that occur after the initial episode (if someone’s initial outbreak was recognized at all). Typically lesser in severity and time to heal than the first episode.
Asymptomatic: individuals who do not experience presenting symptoms of recurrent outbreaks but can still “shed” the virus a percentage of the time.
Talk to your partners. Understand where they fall along these classifications. Encourage communication about prodrome symptoms. Discuss antiviral therapy (is it suppressive? Is it episodic? Do they have it at all? Do they want to?). Talk about barrier usage and comfort levels.
For people with herpes: One of the best resources you have in navigating your diagnosis is yourself. Learning your triggers. Understanding what classification you fall under and how stress may impact that (if at all). If you’re someone who experiences prodrome, learning how your body responds in preparation for an outbreak. So many people often ask for specific remedies and tips, but what works for me, or anyone, ultimately may not work for you and your body.
For partners: One of the best resources(but never the only😊) in navigating sex with someone who has herpes is a partner who knows their status, triggers, prodrome, and can communicate to and with you along the way.