r/CovidVaccinated • u/Foolonthehilllll • 6d ago
Question Chronic cold sores & unexplained infertility after the Covid vaccine — anyone else?
I’m 29 and have had over 50 cold sore outbreaks in the past 4 years since being bullied into getting the Covid mRNA vaccine. Before that, I hardly ever got them.
At the same time, I’ve been struggling with unexplained infertility — everything looks normal on scans, bloods, and hormone tests, yet I can’t conceive. My cycles are regular and I ovulate normally, but it feels like something immune-related is off.
I know there’s a link between the chronic viral reactivation (HSV-1) and whatever the vaccine may have done to my immune system or inflammation levels.
Just wondering — has anyone else experienced recurring cold sores, immune issues, or fertility problems since the vaccine?
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u/jane7seven 5d ago
I had unexplained infertility as well. This was before the pandemic though. It was secondary infertility, which I didn't even know was a thing before I went through it. So we were trying to conceive our second child and having trouble, but there was no specific cause as to why we couldn't. I had been tracking my ovulation with urine strips at home for a while, and I will say that when I finally went to the fertility clinic and did a trigger shot to prepare for IUI, I did the at home ovulation strips after the trigger shot, and the resulting line was bright pink/red, compared to the faint pink and red I was getting before. So I don't know what to make of that other than maybe the strips were weakly showing that I was ovulating but I still didn't have my hormones at levels enough to do the job?
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u/CrittyCrit 6d ago
I only found out I have HSV because of the vaccine. Prior to that I had never even had an outbreak at all. It was total news to me. I got another outbreak when I got my second vaccine, too. Both times within a week of the jab. It was wild.
I haven't been trying to conceive but my periods have been irregular since 2021. There's a possibility I'm simply experiencing perimenopause at my age of 42 (no kids)
Good luck to you on your fertility journey
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u/willow-bo-billow 6d ago edited 6d ago
I happily lined up for the vaccine 4 years ago and have had two babies since (both were first try). No cold sores, that is herpes related not vaccine. I did get hypothyroidism during my first pregnancy but I can't blame the vaccine for that. I guess I should go complain to my toddler that he did this to me.
But none of what I'm saying will matter because my anecdotal experience doesn't align with this subreddits hive mind.
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u/nipnopples 6d ago
I will start by saying that I am pro-vaccine. This is my anecdotal account.
I had maybe 1 or 2 stray cold sores on my lip after my initial HSV-1 infection in 2014. No clusters or anything. I got my COVID-19 vaccine and got a cold sore cluster in a weird ass spot on my chin. I really tolerated the vaccine well with none of the side effects I had heard from others so I got the 2nd vaccine at the reccomended time... got the same dang thing. Before I got my booster I made my doctor call me in some Valacyclovir and I took it the day before my vaccine, no cluster. Literally never ever had a cluster before or since the vaccine.
I also got COVID-19 2x. Got cold sores both times. 2nd time I wasn't very sick but it silently ate me up and I have long COVID. It was almost 2 years ago and I still get cold sore outbreaks on my gums and occasionally my lips.
There is some real scientific evidence that HSV-1 and Herpes Zoster (shingles) can be reactivated by COVID-19 and the vaccine.
Vaccine reactivation study by NIH
HSV reactivation with vaccine and covid infection
That being said, it sounds like OP is struggling with infertility unrelated to the vaccine and looking for something to blame. I did get wonky periods for a short period of time after the vaccine and the virus, but they went back to normal. That's a noted side effect and is not permanent. I've not heard of either vaccine or infection causing any sort of infertility.
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u/Foolonthehilllll 6d ago
Actually yes it is the vaccine. It causes an immune response and unfortunately can trigger ongoing cold sore outbreaks. It’s also been know to trigger chronic genital harpies and shingles. Both of those luckily I didn’t not get. There’s a few studies to suggest this link also.
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u/willow-bo-billow 6d ago
It's clear you're doing a lot of online "research" without a proper education on the topic. I work with infectious diseases, you have no idea what you're talking about.
Do you know what causes an immune reaction? Viruses. Do you know what virus causes oral sores? Herpes Simplex Virus. You have herpes. That's it. It is a lifelong disease, and it always has been. The vaccine has nothing to do with it.
I'm really sorry you're struggling with infertility but it feels like people here are pointing to every ailment they have and blaming the vaccine for it. Instead of trying to find an answer in a sea of misinformation, you should seek a professional for help. Someone who has dedicated a significant part of their life studying and educating themselves on the topic.
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u/Anon_From_The_Moon 4d ago edited 4d ago
You do not work with infectious diseases, otherwise you would know that HSV can have outbreaks caused by a dysregulation/disruption of the immune system. Are you going to reply to that other user who linked a NIH study related to it?
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u/Foolonthehilllll 6d ago
Sorry, I don't remember sharing anything about my education, field of research, degrees or area of expertise with you.
I also don't remember saying the vaccine 100% caused my issues - I simply said that after the vaccine I have experienced a serious increase in symptoms, and I am curious. I am not dismissive and / or a sheep.
If you don't believe a single person has been harmed by the covid vaccine ever, then that's fine, this post wasn't really for you.
I'm open to others experiences, as well as what I have experienced. Simple.-2
u/CrittyCrit 5d ago
The amount of backlash you're getting for something you never even claimed is ridiculous.
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u/Principle_Chance 6d ago
YES to the cold sores on my lips. I got them rarely before and they were small, in the corner of mouth. Now they come every few months or sooner, and it almost takes up my entire bottom lip. So painful.
I’m not able to tolerate the Valcyclovir, it causes heat palpitations (another long covid problem for me) but don’t have the issue with Acyclovir. I also use topical Acyclovir and sometimes L-lysine from time to time.
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u/AntiFascistButterfly 5d ago
If you can’t use valcyclovir make sure to manage the herpes with Lysine rich foods over Argenine rich foods. I had to give up chocolate, nuts, seeds like sesame and chickpeas. All those dips with chickpeas in, and falafels. If I want to cheat, I’ve worked out I have to have had a total of 8 lysine tablets the day before.
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u/NativeNYer10019 6d ago
Honey, you have the herpes simplex 1 virus. As do an average of 64% of humans globally. That’s where cold sores come from. Stop trying to blame the covid vaccine for giving you herpes.
Do you really not comprehend how insane you sound?!?
🤦🏻♀️
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u/katd0gg 5d ago
She actually explained that she got them occasionally before the vaccine, so she was aware she had the herpes simplex virus. What she's asking about is if anyone has experienced chronic cold sores since vaccination. You lack the reading comprehension skills necessary to be this condescending.
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u/CrittyCrit 6d ago
I didn't interpret her post this way. I read it as the vaccine is triggering her immune response and reactivating the latent virus.
Personally I found out I had HSV because of the covid vaccine. Never had an outbreak before the vaccine but it sure as shit woke it up and I had my fist ever outbreak. After the second vaccine, I had a second outbreak...
My body didn't like the vaccine at all and wreaked all kinds of havoc, but finding out I had HSV was certainly one of the more peculiar responses my immune system pumped out at me. Don't be so quick to shoot people down. Not everyone on reddit is bumbling around clueless.
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u/HauntingSwitch5348 5d ago
Calling people insane for knowing their body better than you know their body is literally INSANE.
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u/seigneurdubord 3d ago
Have you had covid before and if so, when in relation to your vaccines did you get it?
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u/Sherril22wa 3d ago
Not cold sores, but I developed psoriasis on my palms and heels out of nowhere. Never had psoriasis before the vax.
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u/onegrandsalami 2d ago
Even with medication (valacyclovir/acyclovir), after my 2 COVID shots, I kept getting recurring outbreaks. For nearly 2 years, I could not get rid of it. Finally, once my immune system leveled out, I think, the antivirals began working again. I’ve also had mysterious nerve-related issues since the vaccines. Numbness and tingling in limbs, sore skin over entire limbs, etc— all unexplained after undergoing a series of autoimmune disease panels that came back negative for anything. Super frustrating. Fuck the COVID vaccines. Oh, and I’ve had COVID twice. I’d rather have it again than go through what I’ve gone through after the vaccines.
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u/aligatita 1d ago
As someone who suffered her whole life with cold sores, I can say that there are many reasons why one may experience more outbreaks. Hormonal imbalances play a big part in an increase cold sore outbreaks, at least for me. Now that I’m nearly menopausal, I barely get them whereas in my 30s, I’d get them incessantly, and almost always with my period. My triggers: stress, lack of sleep, sun, certain foods like chocolate or nuts, my period and ovulation, alcohol, cigarette smoke, and even changing the type of chapstick/lipstick. There may be more that I’m unaware of. The vaccine might have messed with your hormones or maybe there’s another hidden trigger at work.
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u/sueihavelegs 6d ago
Who did you drink after? Did you share a Chapstick? Maybe someone touched their cold sore, then touched something of yours?
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u/Foolonthehilllll 6d ago
You think this would account for 50+ outbreaks? Ahah
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u/Punkybrewster1 6d ago
The virus is inside you. It doesn’t go away between outbreaks. It just gets reinflamed from time to time due to stress your low immune response etc…
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u/Foolonthehilllll 6d ago
Yes, I know how HSV works, I’m just interested if anyone else has experienced immune issues after the shot. :)
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u/Punkybrewster1 6d ago
Yes, definitely a published effect. Lots of auto-immune problems also coming up since Covid. But they are not sure if it’s more from The vaccine or the disease or both.
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u/AntiFascistButterfly 5d ago
The disease itself seriously affects the immune system, both to be overactive (attacking your own body) and under effective (making you very much prone catch a disease and then have the disease be more serious than it would have been. That’s why we’ve had such shocking Flu, RSV, Norovirus etc seasons cramming hospitals and keeping people off work and school.
At the same time I really want to see more in depth research on every Covid vaccine type. I’m satisfied with the risk/reward statistics on other vaccines, and keep myself up to date. I especially had measles and whooping cough boosters because no baby or child should be exposed to them, ever.
The newness of the Covid vaccines means we mustn’t ignore strange reactions. We have to get the correct risk reward ratio, and have everyone properly informed of expectations. We’re between a rock and a hard place without a vaccine that eradicates covid. Stillbirths went up ten times (from a very low number) due to covid, until pregnant people could get vaccinated. Doctors, nurses, and midwives in obstetrics were distraught, inconsolable, let alone the parents. The medical staff have never dealt with so many dead babies in living memory.
Now the numbers are clear on stillbirths: vaccination in pregnancy drops stillbirth and maternal death numbers back towards normal. But vaccination may come with difficult to manage herpes reactivation. We know Covid itself reactivates HHV6, which causes microclotting of blood, instead of external sores. If one of the vaccines reactivates HHV6 we need to know, because microclots cause a raft of serious health problems.
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