Herpes and pregnancy

[M-Jay]

I was diagnosed with Herpes Type 1 in 2005 and since my initial treatment have only had one other mild outbreak. I am currently trying to conceive and am worried about the Herpes affecting this. Could the Herpes have affected my fertility in any way and is there anything I can do to prevent any outbreaks when I conceive?

[Debbie Miller, RN]

Hello,
I assume you mean that you have contracted the virus genitally.
Usually the initial infectious outbreak is the most severe; later they are often milder and may be infrequent. You may not have a problem at all during pregnancy and it will not affect your ability to conceive. If you get an active genital outbreak near the time of delivery, the baby is often taken by cesarean section but if there is no active lesion a vaginal delivery can usually be accomplished. Just be sure your attending doctor is aware of your history.

I know of no sure way to prevent this but stress sometimes aggravates it so try to keep yourself as stress-free as possible. Use relaxation exercises, meditation, yoga, etc.

Best wishes