Does Herpes Zoster affect the male reproductive system in any way?

Question

Aaron Allen · Accepted Answer

Herpes Zoster or Human Herpes Virus 3 causes reactivation of chicken pox in an older person mainly,who had been infected with HHV 3 in early life.

Unlike HIV, which is solely clinical, HZV is known to experience latency, which is both clinical and microbiological. The dorsal region of the third thoracic to fourth lumbar ganglia is where it primarily remains latent. As a person's immunity wane, they become reactivated, spread centrifugally along the sensory nerves originating from those ganglia, and produce blister formation in the typical manner on the skin region those sensory nerves supply. Now, since male genitalia receive nerve supply primarily from sacral and partially from lumbar ganglia, it can cause blisters on the genitalia if it experiences latency in any sacral ganglion, or ganglionic impar (referred to as such because they are not having two chains unlike in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar region; rather have a single chain).

Josiah Austin · Answer

undefined Herpes zoster, also called shingles, usually does not directly impact the male reproductive system. Occasionally, it can lead to complications like inflammation of the prostate gland or testicles.