Can herpes simplex 1 only live in your urethra?

No, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can infect various parts of the body, not just the urethra. HSV-1 is primarily known for causing oral herpes, which affects the mouth, lips, and surrounding areas. It can also cause genital herpes when transmitted through sexual contact, affecting the genitals, buttocks, and surrounding skin. HSV-1 can occasionally occur in other body locations, such as the eyes (herpetic keratitis), fingers (herpetic whitlow), and rarely, the central nervous system (herpes simplex encephalitis). Therefore, HSV-1 can reside and cause infections in multiple anatomical regions beyond just the urethra.