HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

Can hsv shedding cause an outbreak if you already have the virus? can any docs explain?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered

Specializes in Psychiatry

Not sure what you: are asking. A person who has infection with Herpes Simplex virus may have viral shedding even in absence of a skin lesion. The viruses that are shedding can infect someone else. In some cases a person can spread the herpes simplex virus to another location on their own body.

Answered 8/31/2014

3.7k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

Is it possible to come in contact with herpes simplex virus and not have your first outbreak for years ? I'm praying my kids never get HSV like I have?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

My boyfriend of a year has a herpes cold sore on his lip and he says he has never had it before.I don't have the virus. Can hsv-1 be dormant for years and suddenly outbreak?

9 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

Could the first outbreak for the genital herpes simplex virus type 1 occur over a year later?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Sores on penis back in August, in-person GP check reassured me not HSV as did 2nd online doctor after I shown him pictures of sores. STD clinic PCR swab came back with HSV-1. No outbreak since. Do I trust the PCR swab diagnosis or the 2 initial docs?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

My HSV-1 IgG showed high + (22.5). But I never had any outbreaks or symptoms yet. So not sure its oral or genital. I know virus can be contagious while shedding with no symptoms. I don't want to transmit to my wife. How much shedding rate HSV-1 has?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

In order to "shed" HSV 1 & 2, would you have to have had a primary outbreak at some point? Or can u shed the virus without ever having any sores?
I have HSV-2 for many years and have an outbreak now on my anus. I have been having some nerve/muscle pain in my legs since about a day before the outbreak. Can the herpes virus cause these kinds of symptoms?
Don't have HSV 2, but curious how u can transmit the virus to baby during delivery if there isn't an active outbreak?
My girlfriend has HSV-2 and has never had an outbreak. I do not have the virus. Is it safe for me to perform oral sex on her?
Could the herpes simplex virus be spread when there is not an outbreak?

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.