Kacey

Whenever I shave,I always thought i had outbreaks until I went to the doc and realise it was laser burns and ingrown hair. I always do vajacials and use aloe vera and tea tree and moisturiser on my genital. It helps me a whole lot. My doc told me to treat it like regular skin or my face, clean exfoliated and moisturized

If your partner is a loving person outside the virus. Kindly forgive him, otherwise trash him

I went to the doctor a few days ago. I am always sad about the way i contracted herpes because it was forcefully done and i am always afraid to disclose. I spoke to my doc and he told me that " did you know when the men come and hear about this, they treat it like its nothing, its always the females who overly anxious and worried" looking back i realise that the predator have had several gfs after me and some must have been aware of the herpes status" ARE WE SELF DEFEATING OURSELVES? ITS JUST A VIRUS THAT CAUSES RASH OR SORES AND IT HEALS IF WE TAKE CAEE OF OUR HEALTH BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY AND OR TAKE THE PRESCRIBED PILLS... THE STATISTICS SAY OVER 80% CONFIRMED CASES OF HERPES I IN THE US AND 49% CONFIRMED HERPES 2. THERE ARE MORE OUT THERE NOT CONFIRMED. Way more. Its a silent STI I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, I AM HAVING MY BEST SEX LIFE PROTECTED AND THE MOMENT I STOPPED OVERTHINKING ABOUT THIS VIRUS, MY OUTBREAKS DISAPPEARED. LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE . YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. GO HAVE SEX , G0 HAVE PROTECTED FUN. My advice to you love searchers, TO FIND LOVE IS NOT EASY WHETHER YOU HAVE HERPES OR NOT. Love is not about physical only , its a soul to soul connection. I AM HAVING FUN TILL THE DAY I DIE. HERPES STIGMA WILL NOT STOP ME. You might just worry yourself in to a mental illness. No, I will not disclose if I dont feel like it.

I agree with you. I believe some people would choose contracting Covid over herpes because of ignorance. The media contributes to the high stigmatization of HSV. I was speaking to a friend who is unaware of my diagnosis. She said she would commit suicide if she contracted herpes. However , if it was covid she would strengthen her immune system. I am not sure if the world is considering other forms of virus muchless to highlight that they can be easily be contracted like Covid. The media has not shed any light on other forms of virus in a positive light and I doubt they ever will. It's only us with herpes hoping that the recent Covid situation will lessen stigmatization.

So recently I decided to take my medications and eat healthy and date for fun. I have both HSV 1 abd HSV 2 and I am recovering from a narcissistic relationship where I was raped by my ex predator who took my virginity. He was a very cruel guy. Anyway, I was dating for fun just to boost ego and still feel pretty and atttactive without any plans to have sexual intercourse with anyone. I have met a friend who practices celibacy and decided to do the same. If celibacy didn't work for me , i had plan to invest in sex toys and please my damn self and love myself. One the guys i dated was so kind , so loving so understanding of my trauma story except i didnt tell him I had dire consequences. I experienced two tramautic situation whivh lead me to have a brief psychosis and almost lost my mind due to the traumas. So we are having a really good relationship but no sex. I kept putting sex off because i wanted to disclose but didnt know how. In my culture, HSV 1 orally is very normal. No big deal but when its genital its a big thing....One day he invited me over and I was going to disclose until he turned me on and we started kissing. I had no sores to my knowledge. Havent had outbreak since first and thats almost 2 years ago and now i feel i might be asymptomatic. We tried sex but i couldnt lubricate enought because i was traumatised from rape plus i feel like its deceptful not diclosing and so sex was very painful. Anyway he started kissing me all over. In prior discussions, we said to each other that we dont like oral sex and that ots against out beliefs.... so i didnt expect him to kiss me and then surprisingly kiss my clit and it felt so good since it was me first . He didnt even ask he surprised me... so even though i wasnt into oral sex i had to do it back. PENETRATION WAS WITH CONDOMN. Weeks past and i felt good that yes my virus was dormant until 3 weeks in he had a terrible rash all over his forehead with pus and i am wondering if it is the herpes. I am going to let us both get tested because i thought i was careful but if its its hsv i will never forgive myself.

A lot of people will say I am a bitch for saying this but i am over being positive and searching for love. Kudos to people who found love with HSV. Some of us will never be thay lucky. The truth is even women who are beautiful and STD free cant find Love. My advice may be harsh and cruel to some but this is my opinion... I stopped having an OCD about herpes. I take my meds and i take my vitamins and practice safe sex but i dont disclose anymore. 1- 6 people have this damn virus that just cause stupid bumps and rash like eczema and acne and other skin disease. Kmt. Its just the stigma attached that makes it looks awful. Tired of playing good emotional soft women disclosing and breaking my heart when i disclose. I am going out there practicing safe sex with condom and i told them half truth that i was a victim of rape and i know i dont have hiv but there might be others so safe sex please. When U disclose, some men expose you... damage ur reputation and make yoh look like R.Kelly. I was a virgin when i contracted this from a predator and i dont think i should let stigmatization hold me back.

Lol. Ikr

You are welcome dear. I haven't seen my gynae in a long while. You know what really helps. Exercising, managjng stress through a coping skill, eating lots of fruits and veges, taking vitamin c, herpes meds and probiotics. You can also take multivitamins. Oh yes DRINK A WHOLE LOT OF WATER. SLEEP WELL. Focus on Goals...Honestly once i have started doing this overtime i havent had an outbreak. Initially those steps were taken to show myself that i am still going to take "care of me" and "love me" despite herpes. Turns out it had lot more benefits. Note: I do have relapses from time to time. I will cry or vent on the forum. So I started seeing a pyschologist to help me with the mental "symptoms" that comes with hsv but physically i am fine.

I agree with you. I think this support group has helped me alot. May I add that i was once negative too but overtime i started gaining confidence.

Honestly for me, I am not ashamed when guy's say they dont date people with herpes because before i contracted it I was one of them who feared STDS. Remember it is highly stigmatized. Spend some time becoming more knowledgeable about the illness and NEVER disclose too early. Stay positive but be smart as well.

That's just not true about your dating life coming to an end because if herpes

I told my psychologist that i joined an online support group for herpes. I told her how much i liked it and listed the benefits. However she said , sometimes online support groups cause one to be more depressed or anxious because of others strong opinions. Especially if you already suffering mentally because of this illness. She shared a powerful article too. Read this everyone: "How herpes became the sexual boogeyman" She also said. The illness itself is not what most people fear but it's the stigma attached to it that has caused the fear shame and guilt. For those who struggle with disclosure: She also said we should find courage in our vulnerability. I asked another psychiatrist why people do those evil things? (this is specifically who were victims of sexual predators like myself. The guy purposely gave it to me. ) Her response was that its human nature to be selfish and sometimes other people are battling their own demons. It's just sad that they drag innocent people in their own battles. She also said (this is the most important part) ‼you never know what people are capable of doing as such it's your responsibility to protect yourself against the unseen. ‼

I have huge problem. Before contracting herpes when i shave or was i use to get terible ingrows and itching when the hair was growing back. Now after ciontracting herpes , i didny shave for a year. Now after i shave recently, the bumps arent like the pripr ingrowns but rather small. My vagina is very itchy and red bunps come where the hair follicle is. Its not fill with pus. Could shaving trigger OB?

I dont want have a victim mentality mindset but i really wonder why i couldnt have been the lucky few that caught a curable STD, even syphillis is better than herpes. Herpes cant be cured and you have to deal with annnoying outbreaks plus stigma. I wonder how people with HIV/AIDS keep up. I dont want to be negative nancy but lets face it, Its sad. I was a freaking virgin when i caught the STD and now i have to let all the good men pass me by. Fantasising about a cure for herpes, meeting a man that loves me despite herpes and also meeting my standards, having to worry if my vagina still look sexually appealimg or smells good if i do choose to have sex again. I honestly feel like going out there and hurting guys the same way i was hurt especially the ones who act as if they are walking on gold diamond or glass.... i have given up, not going to give anyone the choice to be with me, i am going to have sex,hide my condtion and take my meds. I sound like a bitch but i really want a boy friend, i cant deal.with the sexual fustration.its getting to me. I am sad. I was all positive about herpes but it was only cover i put but truly deep down inside,I AM HURT

How do you know when you have asymptomatic shedding? What is it like? What is this tingy feeling yall talk about? I only get bumps once in a good while. I wonder if its herpes bumps or just regular vaginal pimples. I have never experienced an outbreak like my first. There were two instances where i had two tough lumps on my vagina. I was wondering if it was herpes or hpv. Sigh. Someone explain please the symptoms and how to recognize an outbreak or shedding.