www.science.org/content/article/herpes-virus-may-be-trigger-autism
Found this today and am really worried.
I’ve had HSV2 for 10 years (from an ex) was obviously devastated when diagnosed, but living with it now. New partner knows about it, I usually take suppressive aciclovir and he hasn’t caught it from me yet…
Stopped taking the tablets while pregnant, only took them when I felt a “flare up” coming on or had an outbreak.
Now I’ve come across this! I had a bad break out at 11 weeks pregnant, and some other more mild outbreaks, which I treated with aciclovir, but am really worried about the link with autism. If I’d known I would never had stopped taking the tablets (as a preventative).
Now delving deeper into this it appears that it’s not the virus that can cause autism, it’s the mothers immune/inflammatory response to the infection… (as having flu/fever while pregnant can also increase risk autism)
Before becoming pregnant, I would have frequent outbreaks (monthly with each period) which is why I was on suppressive therapy. And I thought in pregnancy your immune system was suppressed to protect the fetus from it (which why I might have got such a bad/frequent outbreaks during early pregnancy…) So I’m clutching to the thought that my immune system is rubbish and I don’t mount much of an immune response to the virus and my baby will not have suffered for it.
Really worried and will be so pissed at my ex, as I can cope with having HSV2 but having it affect my child (and new partner) if really unfair.
Need reassurance as what’s done is done, but anyone have any experience with this?
Probably need to talk with doctor but surely if the link is there, it would be beneficial to continue suppressive therapy throughout pregnancy to prevent? The tablets appear safe to take throughout pregnancy.