Coping with Herpes and Dating

What if you found out that you have herpes? Is it something you should be worried about? How will you deal with it? How about dating with herpes? Obviously, it is difficult to tell others that you had it unless, you yourself have accepted that fact.

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease/ infection that is passed through either genital or oral. This is the sole STD that can be acquired even while using condoms during sex. Genital herpes can be acquired by having sexual intercourse with someone who already has it. On the other hand, you can be infected by oral herpes through saliva-to-saliva or simply by kissing someone who is infected by the disease or who has an oral infection.  Most people don’t really know they have herpes because it sometimes shows no or few symptoms that the host body could hardly identify that they have it. They aren’t aware they are infected which could be dangerous because any disease if not detected and cured earlier may have taken away your life. Also, recognition of the disease is hard because symptoms may vary to all.

Statistics show that one in five men has genital herpes and that is about 20% of the men population. While, one in four women are detected to have genital herpes and that’s about 25% of the women population. Surprisingly, 85% of those who have it are unaware. Quantitatively, herpes is a common disease particularly to women.

But, people with herpes are still part of the society. They too, also deserve acceptance, love and care. One woman who strongly admitted to her partner that she has the infectious disease has touched many people of her story. She was diagnosed of herpes when she was in college and the nurse who examined told her that it was not a big deal. Herpes is curable if detected on the early stage. At first encounter, she hardly accepted it and it was more difficult when she finally told her partner about the matter. Their relationship ended the moment the truth was revealed. She thought of never dating out again because the same thing could happen. She was worried about getting back in the dating game again for it may be a “now-or-never” case.  After days of browsing the internet for herpes treatment and undergoing numerous medication, she is finally ready to go on a date again. But, it’s worth the try when she came across the “Mr. Right Online” from herpes dating sites. Now, they are getting married and hoping to have many children.

For women with herpes, you could have the same fortune as hers. If you are having problem with looking for the right guy who will be as accepting and understanding as the Mr. Right in the story, then you should start believing that you too can have a happy ever after.  It could be that herpes keeps you from dating because of the fear of being rejected or simply because it’s contagious, you are afraid of passing it to your partner. But even if you live with herpes, you could still live a happy and normal life like any ordinary person.

Related information:

A dating guide for Women with herpes

Mary Desilva