Exploratory survey to assess interest in herpes simplex virus pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis

BackgroundHerpes simplex virus (HSV) remains one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections worldwide, yet no established pharmacologic pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis strategy currently exists for primary HSV prevention. This study evaluated patient interest in HSV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to inform future clinical trial feasibility.MethodsAn anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted from August 2025 to April 2026 through outpatient clinics affiliated with an academic medical center, county hospital, and a community-based HIV/STI organization in Los Angeles, California. Participants were also encouraged to share a public survey link to facilitate broader dissemination. Participants were asked about demographics, sexual practices, STI prevention behaviors, and interest in hypothetical HSV PrEP and HSV PEP strategies.ResultsThere were 89 completed quality controlled surveys suitable for analysis. Participants had a median age of 30 years (range 21-76), and the majority identified as cisgender male (65%), white (65%), and HIV-negative (96%). Interest in HSV PEP (75%) exceeded HSV PrEP (54%) across all analyzed groups. Participants currently taking HIV PrEP demonstrated particularly high interest in both HSV PrEP (76%) and HSV PEP (82%). Common barriers included daily medication burden and concerns regarding side effects.ConclusionsInterest in HSV prophylaxis was observed, particularly among individuals already engaged in STI prevention strategies. These findings support the feasibility of future clinical trials evaluating HSV prophylaxis in high-risk populations.