Question:
I'd like to have another baby, but everytime I am fertile I get an outbreak. I had an IUD for a year and never really had outbreaks then. Now, I have had a menstrual cycle for three months now and get an outbreak everytime I am fertile. Is there anything I can do other than valtrex since I can't afford it with my insurance?

Answer:
The first thing you need to do is see if there's anything you can change in your own lifestyle that may be causing outbreaks. Stress, alcohol, illness, and poor diet can all trigger outbreaks. Stress could be the first culprit here, since your body might now be more vulnerable to hormonal/emotional stress now that you're off the IUD.

If you think this could be the case, try finding something that helps you manage your stress, such as massage or yoga. You may also want to make an effort to change your sleep habits to ensure you're getting at least eight hours a night.

There are also some herbal remedies you could try. Have you used any L-lysine products before? They're available at health food stores and have worked for some people to prevent frequency of outbreaks.

(based on original question by user the_girl)