Dramatic increase in outbreaks - menopausal, using bioidentical hormones (sporadically, sometimes. .

HI!  I am in a similar boat.  I have had it for 4 years.  I'm 26. As a birth control I am on the Depo shot.  I have noticed that as time goes by my outbreaks are more frequent.  And about a week before my next shot is due is when I get an agressive outbreak.  So, being on depo is like being in menopause.  I am also very curious as to the correlation between hormones and outbreaks.  I guess I don't really have an answer. But I know it is stress and hormone related.  I just noticed you wrote your question a year ago almost, but if you just so happen to see this, I would love a response.  Oh, I am also taking DHEA. 

There is definitely a correlation between menopauseal hormone fluctuations and the frequency of outbreaks.  I am 59 and my outbreaks have been steadily more frequent, with and without bioidentiacal hormone replacement.  My naturopath is changing my hormone dosages upward, to balance my horomones, so I will be able to report in a few months if that helped the outbreaks.  Meanwhile I am going to suggest that every woman reading this site write the University of Washington Herpes Virus Center. They do research but I don't think they know anything about this.  Most of the research has to do with how drugs affect the virus. If there is anyone else going through this same thing, It would be helpful to hear from you! MSea

Just in case anyone reading this wants to contact the University of Washington Viral Research Center to let them know about the herpes-hormone connection here is the information:

UWVRC is located at:
908 Jefferson Street, 11th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone 206-720-4340
Email vrc@u.washington.edu

I suspect there is a strong OB/hormone connection. I have been OB free for years, and now suddenly at 46 while going through homonal changes, it seems like I get an outbreak every 4-6 weeks (this has been going on now for 10 months). I'm at my wits end. The OBs are more painful and intense from what I remember from years ago. Valtrex has helped, but I'm not used to recurring episodes like this. Some are even back to back. Other than that, my other perimenopausal symptoms have been rather manageable, so I am reluctant to do any sort of hormonal therapy. 

Thanks for posting this, and thanks to the responders so far. I'm 53 and entering perimenopause, irregular periods for the last 18 months and hot flashes for the last 3. I'm not using any hormones - just trying to be concious of eating good, diet, herbs, exercise etc.

I've had herpes for almost 30 years with occasional outbreaks maybe once or twice a year (always base of spine area) with varying degrees of flu-like symtoms. Just a few days ago I started the worst outbreak I have ever had with funky pre-symptoms - I thought I really was getting sick. Area is at least 4 inches with large center blistering and several outlying clusters. After doing some research I'm thinking that the hot flash/body's reaction to regulating temperature (hot/sweaty) is definitely an issue and obviously when combined with stress sets me up for the outbreak. So I'm going to take my B vitamins, support my immune system, try to moderate my stress (ha ha). Using lemon balm (true melissa) essential oil directly on the herpes has been the most effective treatment for me. I'd love to hear more from others on this. Thanks!