Women in the United States with human immunodeficiency virus, orHIV, should not breastfeed.But what about those with other sexually transmitted infections, like herpes? The answer is a little more complex than a simple “yes” or “no.”
Let’s take a closer look at herpes and whether this infection is a contraindication to breastfeeding.
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What Is Herpes?
Herpesis a sexually transmitted infection known medically as herpes simplex virus, or HSV. There are two types:
While either type can cause genital or mouth/lip herpes, HSV-2 usually causes genital herpes and HSV-1 usually causes herpes on the mouth—a.k.a. cold sores or fever blisters.
Causes of Herpes of the Breast
While herpes usually infects the mouth/lips and genitals, it can infect any part of the skin. Though uncommon, this can include the breast.
Herpes is spread through contact with someone else with the herpes infection.For instance, genital herpes is transmitted through genital-genital contact or genital-oral contact with another person who has herpes.
In the case of herpes of the breast, the skin of the breast must have come in contact with the infected skin of another person with herpes.
It’s important to note that the virus can be present on the skin without an obvious herpes sore. This means that a person can pass herpes to someone else even if they have no symptoms or signs of infection.
What Herpes of the Breast Looks and Feels Like
Herpes on the breast looks like tiny fluid-filled bumps on a red base that are tender. Some people will experience flu-like symptoms with a herpes outbreak, especially the first one.Future outbreaks may occur, but they almost always last a shorter time and are not as painful.
In people with HIV, herpes outbreaks can be more severe and last longer due to their impairedimmune system.
It’s important to see your healthcare provider for adiagnosis, as herpes of the breast can resemble a yeast or bacterial infection or plugged milk ducts.
The Safety of Breastfeeding With Herpes
If a woman has herpes on her body, but not her breast, breastfeeding is safe. The virus cannot pass through a woman’s body into her milk.
On the other hand, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if a woman has herpes sores on her breast, she should not breastfeed.
However, she can express or pump milk from that breast, as long as the parts of the breast pump that touch the milk do not come in contact with the herpes sores. If this occurs, the milk must be discarded.
Risks of Feeding From a Breast With Herpes Sores
If a woman suspects or has been diagnosed with herpes of the breast, it’s critical she stop nursing from the affected breast.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV and breastfeeding.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.El Hayderi L, Caucanas M, Nikkels AF.Herpes simplex virus infections of the nipple.Open Dermatology Journal. 2012;6:29-32. doi:10.2174/1874372201206010029American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Genital herpes.U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC Breastfeeding Support.Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush.Section on Breastfeeding.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 2012;129(3):e827-e841. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552James SH, Sheffield JS, Kimberlin DW.Mother-to-child transmission of herpes simplex virus.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3 Suppl 1:S19-23. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu050Additional ReadingHeller MM, Fullerton-Stone H, Murase JE.Caring for new mothers: diagnosis, management, and treatment of nipple dermatitis in breastfeeding mothers.Int J Dermatol.2012;51(10):1149-61. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05445.xOffice on Women’s Health.Genital herpes.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV and breastfeeding.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.El Hayderi L, Caucanas M, Nikkels AF.Herpes simplex virus infections of the nipple.Open Dermatology Journal. 2012;6:29-32. doi:10.2174/1874372201206010029American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Genital herpes.U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC Breastfeeding Support.Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush.Section on Breastfeeding.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 2012;129(3):e827-e841. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552James SH, Sheffield JS, Kimberlin DW.Mother-to-child transmission of herpes simplex virus.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3 Suppl 1:S19-23. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu050Additional ReadingHeller MM, Fullerton-Stone H, Murase JE.Caring for new mothers: diagnosis, management, and treatment of nipple dermatitis in breastfeeding mothers.Int J Dermatol.2012;51(10):1149-61. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05445.xOffice on Women’s Health.Genital herpes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV and breastfeeding.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.El Hayderi L, Caucanas M, Nikkels AF.Herpes simplex virus infections of the nipple.Open Dermatology Journal. 2012;6:29-32. doi:10.2174/1874372201206010029American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Genital herpes.U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC Breastfeeding Support.Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush.Section on Breastfeeding.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 2012;129(3):e827-e841. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552James SH, Sheffield JS, Kimberlin DW.Mother-to-child transmission of herpes simplex virus.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3 Suppl 1:S19-23. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu050
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HIV and breastfeeding.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.
El Hayderi L, Caucanas M, Nikkels AF.Herpes simplex virus infections of the nipple.Open Dermatology Journal. 2012;6:29-32. doi:10.2174/1874372201206010029
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Genital herpes.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC Breastfeeding Support.Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush.
Section on Breastfeeding.Breastfeeding and the use of human milk.Pediatrics. 2012;129(3):e827-e841. doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3552
James SH, Sheffield JS, Kimberlin DW.Mother-to-child transmission of herpes simplex virus.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2014;3 Suppl 1:S19-23. doi:10.1093/jpids/piu050
Heller MM, Fullerton-Stone H, Murase JE.Caring for new mothers: diagnosis, management, and treatment of nipple dermatitis in breastfeeding mothers.Int J Dermatol.2012;51(10):1149-61. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05445.xOffice on Women’s Health.Genital herpes.
Heller MM, Fullerton-Stone H, Murase JE.Caring for new mothers: diagnosis, management, and treatment of nipple dermatitis in breastfeeding mothers.Int J Dermatol.2012;51(10):1149-61. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2011.05445.x
Office on Women’s Health.Genital herpes.
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