The TRUTH About Cold Sores That Will Surprise You!

Most people think HSV-1 is just a cold sore — but the truth is, it’s a lot more complicated than that. From kissing, to intimacy “down-there”, to sharing lip products, there’s still a ton of confusion about how HSV-1 really spreads and how to prevent it.

In this episode of the Herpes Wellness Podcast, Cat Dupree clears up the myths about HSV-1 transmission, explains what the World Health Organization and CDC actually say, and breaks down what you need to know about outbreaks, asymptomatic shedding, prevention, and antivirals. You’ll also learn why HSV1 is so common, how it affects both kids and adults, and what options exist for managing it.

Whether you’re living with cold sores, HSV-1 “down there”, or just want to understand how transmission and treatment really work, this episode gives you the straight facts in plain English so you can take back control of your health and your life.

In this episode you’ll hear:
✔️ Why HSV1 is the leading cause of genital herpes in the U.S.
✔️ How HSV1 spreads through skin-to-skin contact — and why saliva matters too
✔️ The latest stats on how common HSV1 really is worldwide
✔️ What asymptomatic shedding means and how often it happens
✔️ How antivirals like valacyclovir help with outbreaks and transmission
✔️ Why no method — not antivirals or barrier methods — prevents transmission 100%

In this episode 👇🏻
00:00 Intro
00:50 How HSV-1 Can Spread
03:06 How Common is HSV-1
05:41 HSV-1 Asymptomatic Shedding
07:20 HSV-1 Prevention Basics
09:50 How Antivirals Help with HSV-1 and HSV-2
12:01 Suppressive vs Episodic Therapy for Herpes
13:49 Closing

-------------------------------------
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: All content provided by Herpes Wellness is intended for entertainment or educational purposes only. None of this content is intended to offer or replace qualified medical or health related advice. Herpes Wellness accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any injury, loss, or damage in any shape or form incurred in part or in while, as a direct or indirect result of use or reliance upon the information and material presented here.