Shingles is a viral infection that affects the nerves and skin. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles can be very painful and in some cases lead to serious complications. But is shingles classified as a sexually transmitted disease (STD)? Let’s take a closer look.
What are STDs?
STDs, or sexually transmitted diseases, are infections passed from one person to another through sexual contact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common STDs include:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes
- HIV/AIDS
- HPV
- Syphilis
- Trichomoniasis
These diseases are typically spread through vaginal, oral, or anal sex with an infected partner. Some STDs like herpes and HPV can also be spread through skin-to-skin contact. An STD can be spread even if the infected partner does not show symptoms.
What causes shingles?
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, occurs in people who have had chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains dormant in your body. It hides out in your nerve roots and can reactivate years later, causing shingles.
Doctors aren’t sure why the dormant virus reawakens in some people but not others. You may be more likely to get shingles if you:
- Have a weakened immune system due to cancer, HIV, autoimmune disease, or medication
- Are under stress
- Have been exposed to someone with chickenpox
- Are over the age of 50
When the virus reemerges, it can attack a specific nerve and the skin surface that nerve controls. This is why shingles often crops up as a painful rash on one side of the face or body.
Is shingles contagious?
Yes, shingles is contagious to people who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. It can’t spread through casual contact, but direct contact with the blisters can transmit the varicella-zoster virus. This virus causes chickenpox in someone who has never had it before.
A person with shingles can spread the virus when their blisters are in the weeping stage, meaning they are leaking fluid. Once the blisters scab over, the contagious period is over.
Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox. But people who have never had chickenpox or the vaccine should avoid contact with active shingles lesions.
Is shingles classified as an STD?
No, shingles itself is not considered an STD. That’s because it doesn’t directly spread through sexual contact. You can develop shingles whether you are sexually active or not.
However, the virus that causes shingles – varicella-zoster – is related to herpes simplex virus (HSV). And HSV-1 and HSV-2 are common STDs.
Like varicella-zoster, herpes simplex virus goes dormant in nerve tissues after initial infection. It can then reactivate, causing painful blisters. HSV-1 primarily causes oral herpes, while HSV-2 mainly leads to genital herpes. But both viruses can infect either location.
So while shingles itself doesn’t transmit sexually, its viral cousin HSV certainly does. This association sometimes causes confusion over whether shingles counts as an STD.
Can you get shingles from sexual contact?
You cannot get shingles directly from having sex with someone who has shingles. Remember, the virus has to already be dormant in your body in order to reactivate as shingles.
However, if your sexual partner has an active herpes simplex infection (HSV-1 or HSV-2), you could contract oral or genital herpes through sex. In rare cases, this herpes simplex virus could then contribute to an episode of shingles later on.
Being exposed to HSV during sex likely only increases your shingles risk if you’ve never had chickenpox or the vaccine. That’s because a herpes infection could theoretically trigger a case of dormant varicella-zoster.
But for most people who already had chickenpox in childhood, the virus is already lying dormant. So sexual transmission of HSV would not heighten your risk of developing shingles as an adult.
Can you have sex if you or your partner has shingles?
If you or your partner has an active shingles rash, it’s best to avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with the rash until it heals. This helps prevent spreading varicella-zoster. But you can still engage in protected sex that avoids contact with shingles lesions.
Some other precautions if you or your partner has active shingles:
- Avoid oral sex if shingles is on the mouth or genitals
- Use condoms or other barriers if lesions are present
- Wait until rash is completely healed before resuming full sexual contact
- Take antiviral medication to speed healing
- Tell partners about active shingles so they can avoid the rash
Following these tips helps lower the small risk of propagating varicella-zoster through sexual contact with someone who has shingles.
Are shingles and herpes related?
Shingles and herpes are closely related illnesses, since varicella-zoster and herpes simplex are in the same viral family. In fact, they share around 50% of their DNA.
After contracting chickenpox, varicella-zoster virus remains in your nerves indefinitely. Similarly, after initial herpes infection, HSV sticks around in nerve cells ready to flare up again. Both viruses can hide in the nerves near the spine.
Due to these similarities, some researchers believe herpes simplex virus could theoretically play a role in triggering shingles later in life. But this link is unproven and still being investigated.
While shingles and herpes are cousins, they have some important differences:
| Shingles | Herpes |
|---|---|
| Caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus | Caused by HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 |
| Painful rash usually on one side | Painful blisters usually on mouth or genitals |
| Not sexually transmitted | Sexually transmitted infection (STI) |
| Less contagious | Highly contagious |
Can shingles be mistaken for an STD?
Sometimes shingles can be mistaken for an STD like herpes. Genital shingles lesions may look similar to sores caused by sexually transmitted herpes simplex.
However, shingles rashes are typically limited to one side of the body in a small area. Herpes lesions are usually clustered together but often appear on both sides.
Having shingles around the genital region doesn’t mean you have an STD. But you should still see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Viral testing can help distinguish shingles from sexually transmitted infections.
Genital shingles symptoms:
- Pain, burning, numbness on one side of genitals/groin
- Blister-like rash on one side
- Itching, tingling, severe pain
- Lesions scab over in 7-10 days
- Other shingles symptoms like fever, headache
Genital herpes symptoms:
- Tingling, pain around genitals
- Clusters of small blisters on both sides
- Itching, burning sensations
- Flu-like symptoms
- Blisters last 2-4 weeks
While there may be some overlap in symptoms, your doctor can analyze the rash pattern, test fluid from lesions, and order blood work to differentiate between shingles and herpes.
Is there a link between shingles and increased STD risk?
While shingles itself is not sexually transmitted, some research indicates past shingles infection could be a marker for higher lifetime STD risk.
One study found that women who reported a history of shingles were twice as likely to have a sexually transmitted infection compared to women without shingles. They were more likely to test positive for infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, herpes, and syphilis.
Researchers theorize childhood exposure to varicella-zoster may impair immune responses against other viruses later in life. There also appears to be a correlation between shingles risk and having multiple sexual partners.
However, more research is still needed to establish a definite link between shingles history and increased susceptibility to STDs. There are likely other factors that contribute to both risks.
Can you get shingles on your genitals?
For most people, shingles occurs as a rash on one side of the torso or face. However, you can uncommonly get shingles lesions on or around your genital area.
Genital shingles accounts for around 5% of all shingles cases. It is more common in women than men. Triggers are similar to shingles elsewhere on the body – stress, older age, and immunity issues can all reactivate the virus.
Having genital shingles does not mean you have an STD. The painful, blistering rash is caused by the varicella-zoster virus reemerging from nerve tissues near the genitals rather than a sexually transmitted infection.
See your doctor promptly if you develop a rash on or near your genitals to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Signs of genital shingles include:
- Pain, burning, or numbness on one side of genitals/groin
- Tingling, itching, or severe pain
- Red rash that turns into fluid-filled blisters
- Blisters dry out and crust over in 7-10 days
- Swollen lymph nodes in genital region
- Fevers, chills, headache, fatigue
Rarely, shingles can also impact the eye if facial nerves are involved. See an ophthalmologist immediately if your eye is red, light sensitive, or has blurry vision along with a shingles rash.
Shingles treatment
Several medications can help treat shingles and reduce complications:
- Antivirals: Drugs like acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir stop the virus from multiplying.
- Pain medications: Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen, Tylenol, or lidocaine patches and creams provide relief.
- Anti-itch lotions: Calamine lotion, colloidal oatmeal baths, and wet compresses stop itching.
- Zostavax vaccine: This prevents shingles in adults 50+ who have had chickenpox.
See your doctor at the first sign of shingles for prompt treatment. This can reduce the duration and severity of symptoms.
Let partners know if you have active shingles lesions to prevent accidental transmission of varicella-zoster virus. Avoid direct skin contact until rash has completely healed.
Preventing shingles
Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent shingles for adults over 50 who had chickenpox. The CDC recommends two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine Shingrix spaced 2-6 months apart.
This vaccine is over 90% effective at preventing shingles. Protection stays above 85% for at least the first four years after vaccination.
Other ways to lower shingles risk include:
- Get adequate rest and sleep to support your immune system
- Manage stress through relaxation techniques, therapy, or medications
- Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
- Boost immunity through exercise and vitamins
- Control underlying conditions like diabetes or cancer
- Avoid close contact with those who have active shingles
Children can get the chickenpox vaccine to prevent initial varicella-zoster infection. Shingles is far less common in vaccinated children who never had chickenpox.
Conclusion
Shingles results from reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox. While shingles can be painful and annoying, it is not considered a sexually transmitted infection.
Shingles is not spread through sex or intimate skin-to-skin contact. However, the fluid from shingles blisters can spread varicella-zoster to those who are not immune.
Although shingles rashes can occur around the genital area, they are not an STD. But they may be mistaken for other viral infections like herpes simplex.
Getting an accurate diagnosis from your doctor ensures proper treatment. Antiviral medications, pain relief, and good hygiene practices can help resolve symptoms sooner.
Shingles vaccination is recommended for adults 50 and over who had chickenpox. This greatly minimizes the risk of developing this painful reactivation, including rare cases of genital shingles.