Herpes outbreaks can recur after years due to the herpes virus becoming active again when there is a trigger. Triggers can include illness, stress, hormonal changes, and other factors. When the virus is active again, it travels along the nerves, back to where it first entered the body, and causes a new outbreak of sores and blisters. Recurrent genital herpes is most common in the first year after the initial infection and decreases as time goes on. The following triggers can make outbreaks more likely to occur:
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Menstrual periods
- Stress
Anti-herpes medicine can help patients, and when a person experiences a prodrome and suspects a recurrence is going to happen, they can begin taking anti-herpes medications that lessen symptoms and shorten the time of the outbreak.
