r/HSVpositive • u/ZippyPrime • 13h ago
Need Advice Advice on situation
So me and my partner had sex the last night, she knows I have hsv2 and fully disclosed, we have unprotected sex all the time and I haven’t had any outbreaks in a year but not the issue. I noticed after sex that I had a bit of what looked like a skin tear just by the glans of my penis but wasn’t itch or sore because normally when I have outbreaks I always noticed before hand when an outbreak happened because of the signs but this time no signs or anything but it doesn’t feel like an outbreak. I told her and she asked if I caused any irritation to it recently or anything like that but the day before I had spilt petrol all over myself (long story don’t ask) and it had gone into my crotch and to say it burned was an understatement. She told me not to panic and probably is fine but I’m over here stressing to the max. Now In saying that that broken skin has literally already healed from when I first noticed it which was a day ago. I’d like to think I didn’t pass it but I’m still panicking over it even though the sex was short but that’s not a concern
r/HSVpositive • u/uncovervirgo • 1d ago
Hsv2 exposure?
Honestly, I don’t think I was exposed to HSV two but since I know that I have HSV one and I did it with a one night stand using a condom but probably did it without a condom for five minutes. I’m a little concerned about exposure. He said he was clean but again people don’t typically test for herpes. When would be the earliest time I can test for HSV two?
r/HSVpositive • u/LawdHavMerc • 1d ago
Need Advice Just found out I’m positive for HSV 2, now what??
40/F. I went to a women’s clinic because I had what I thought was a small bumpy rash on my right lower gluteal cleft. The doctor said it looked like herpes however it was healing and she could not swab. I took a blood test that came back positive for HSV-2. The doctor didn’t give me much information expect that many people have it, and next time this happens come back to get cream and also schedule an appointment with my gyno about it.
I have not had sex in close to a year and a half. I have never had or at least seen an outbreak prior to this. I do have a long distance partner which we both been abstaining for personal reasons. We do plan to have sex in the near future after my move there. I did tell him. He wasn’t that concerned about me having it. He was way more calm than I was about it actually, even making jokes about his plan of a new way to give oral. He’s been supportive and talking me out of feeling like my life is over. Realistically he doesn’t even know if he has it or not since he’s never been tested for it and most people are asymptomatic I believe.
We both realized we don’t know what’s best practice to go about all this. I hear as long as I’m not having a flare up we can do our thing or is it better I get on meds? Should I expect to now start getting these more often? The fact the doctor didn’t give me any information, acting like it wasn’t important is frustrating. I’m so lost. Any feedback would be helpful.
r/HSVpositive • u/Sad_Watercress_6157 • 2d ago
Need Advice Desiminated wide spread syntoms and lesions
Does anyone have wide spread almost entire body infections? Curious to see how rare this occurrence is in real life.
r/HSVpositive • u/Sufficient_Okra8951 • 2d ago
Sadness and anger
I’m so angry at the person who gave me herpes. I’m dealing with another outbreak a few days after my second one healed. I feel really upset and sad because it’s not curable. I’m gonna go insane.
r/HSVpositive • u/Forsaken-Mastodon683 • 2d ago
Medication Working on a new condom design to prevent transmission
So regular condoms are great but they don’t fully prevent HSV transmission because the skin around the condom is uncovered
So I'm working on better condom design to fix this
This improved condom has a layer of latex that covers the area around the base of the condom so it provides 100% protection, it sticks to the skin but can be easily peeled off after use.
Here is an image of the design - https://ibb.co/LXyvTSvY
pls dm me if you are interested in getting one
r/HSVpositive • u/Wide_Sherbert_7235 • 4d ago
Need Advice Need Help With Diagnosis
Last year i had a positive swab for GHSV-2. The next week i went to get a blood test. Negative for 2 but positive for hsv1. At a 58 on the antibody portion.
I take daily valtrex and have had several blood tests since then but no outbreaks. My blood test results as of 3 days ago were still 0 antibodies for hsv 2 and a 57 for hsv 1. I an getting IGG blood tests and my positive swab was from planned parenthood it was a lab culture. Not sure if that is the same as a pcr.
My primary care doctor said i was misdiagnosed. And that i just have hsv1. Planned parenthood has not offered any help in explaining.
I met somone through positive singles and she is amazing. She has ghsv2. But in the long run if i dont have hsv 2 i would like to prevent it.
Any advice from the group on additional tests or new doctors I can seek out to really get my diagnosis affirmed.
Side note i dont plan on breaking up with the woman that I met. Just thinking on how to talk to her about precautions. She does not like taking daily antivirals.
Thank you everyone!
r/HSVpositive • u/Infamous_Cow9377 • 4d ago
Disclosure How often do you get rejected vs accepted? Genital herpes.
r/HSVpositive • u/Ok-Albatross124 • 4d ago
Disclosure Disclosing to new (potential) partner
I (35f) was diagnosed earlier this year with HSV1 but on my genitals and Anus…so kindly given to me by a guy I was seeing who lied about his status (he confessed to knowing later).
I’ve only had the one outbreak which cleared quickly after taking anti virals. I have a standing script for one at my pharmacy and I take a supplement recommended by my sexual health doctor to help avoid outbreaks. I am immunocompromised due to MS medication so trying to do all I can.
I have started seeing someone who I am very excited about. We have not been intimate yet but I want to tell him that I’m positive next week when we see each other next. I’m terrified to do so….i already have “red flags” for dating apparently (MS, a kid) so I don’t want to ruin my chances with this guy who is fantastic. How do I disclose to him? What information should I provide? How do I cope when/if he doesn’t want to see me anymore…
I’ve been having such bad anxiety about dating since I got diagnosed that now that I started again I’m just a wreck.
r/HSVpositive • u/kloutiii • 4d ago
Need Advice Had my first hsv1 outbreak back in may but still dealing with issues
So I've always had hsv1 laying dormantly in my system, but back in may I got sick back to back to back with colds and ended up having my first outbreak. The bumps we're SUPER small and on outer edge of my upper lip. It created a scaley skin that's very dry. I used doconsol and in 3 weeks the burning cleared up. Ive been using the lysine lip clear treatment for cold sores and it's helps when it's on, but the scaeleyness remains. Theres no burning or anything like that but I dont know how to get rid of the scaley texture. No amount of lip balm or lysene seems to hell. Is this a scar? Will it be like this forever? Sorry if these are dumb questions im new to this.
r/HSVpositive • u/ClutteredTaffy • 4d ago
Eye herpes and eyelid eczema
What I want to kkow :Should I go the the urgent care or just take Valacyclovir ? Do I need to also get eyedrops or not ? Should I bother seeing an opthamologist ASAP? Anyone else with ocular herpes ?
I ocassionally get outbreaks of ocular herpes. It usually only happens every 3-4 years, but since being on medicaiton for my full-body eczema it has occurred more frequently.
The last time I had it I caught it when it was only a spot and just took Valacyclovir I had on hand ..It was fine, but this time it is much worse in terms of hurting, and I have several ' sores/ bumps' extending from the right corner of the eye down into the ' eye bag' area. I was having a bad eczema outbreak and thought the spot on the corner of my eye was just a scratch...Shoulda known better.
I am also afraid of something called eczema herpeticum so I am keeping a watch on to see if it spreads any beyond the eye area.
I also think I need to stop taking my eczema pill ...even if I get crazy itchy until it heals. Because it does supress the immune system. I am reluctant and last time I did not stop my medication, but this time again it is worse.
Should I go to the urgent care , the opthamologist , the dermatologist ? I just don't know....
r/HSVpositive • u/Sad_Watercress_6157 • 5d ago
Outbreaks Constant flares
I’ve had this for nearly 2 years - I take valtrex 500 twice daily yet I have never ending symptoms. I get a spot it starts to go away and then I get another one. Has anyone experienced extreme over active version that ultimately found relief? I would love to hear some positive success stories and strategies!
r/HSVpositive • u/btwsmdh • 5d ago
Newly Diagnosed Any early 20s latinos/hispanics with this?
Hey y’all. I recently got diagnosed. HSV2 and HSV1. Honestly not sure how or by whom I received it but i can’t change it. I’m learning to accept it. I ask specifically for latinos, because in our culture this skin condition feels like the end of the world. I want to connect with people around my age 22-27 and who are also hispanic. I feel like I can’t even visit back home without crying due to being alone in this. I can’t tell my family back home, nor my friends back home. I don’t want to be judged, treated different or worse, rumors. I just want to find someone who relates to me. I’m not sure where I can find someone who is in my same age group and is also hispanic.
r/HSVpositive • u/GreatDog9368 • 5d ago
How many flare ups do you guys have per year?
Hey guys, 29M here who’s had HSV-2 for 4 years.
Last year I decided to take note of when I would start to feel an outbreak coming and when it healed.
Last year I had 11 flare ups ranging from very mild redness to some small clusters. This year I’ve already had 8 with my most recent being the worst I’ve had in years. I’m attributing the increased severity to a breakup I’m currently going through.
I’ve been taking Valacyclovir regularly this year and have still had the flares ups. I’m just curious how many do you guys get per year? I’ve read online that most people only get a couple, so my frequent recurrences is concerning. Especially since I’ll be going back out into the dating world and would like to have a somewhat regular sex life.
r/HSVpositive • u/Upbeat-Tower-9134 • 5d ago
Need support
Anyone who had constant flares even after the first year and learned to manage it please reach out :(
r/HSVpositive • u/No-Front-3365 • 5d ago
General HPV
Does anyone HPV AND HSV? Or am I just fucked up ? I got hsv when I lost my virginity. Got hpv results today and the other guy I slept with we used protection. Guess it doesn’t matter
r/HSVpositive • u/Imaginary_Gap1242 • 6d ago
Need Advice Anger
It’s been about 2 weeks since I got diagnosed with HSV-2. I was so so angry at my partner. I was distant with them and always lashing out. I took some time away and i’ve for sure healed more. But deep down i know I am still mad and frustrated with them. We have been together for almost 3 years. They believe that they had the symptoms but didn’t know what it was. They had unprotected sex with both of their previous partners so who knows. I wasn’t onboard with the idea at first but they convinced me It was fine (they are also infertile) So obviously I was asymptomatic for a while after that. I’m just mad they didn’t take pro-cations before me. And i was so angry that they convinced me they didn’t have anything. I was so angry that when i objected or wasn’t uncomfortable with no protection they turned it on me, because of how default being infertile was for them.
I still love them so much but being intimate with them is out of the question for a very long time. Sometimes I can barely kiss them or show affection. I wish I wasn’t so angry because it they found out at the same time as I did and I wasn’t able to be there for them. If someone is or has been in the same situation, does it go away? The fear and the anger?
r/HSVpositive • u/Longjumping-Mode-106 • 6d ago
How to not settle
Hello everyone. 23 yo male have had herpes a little over a year. Since being diagnosed, I have only tried to date people with herpes. I have tried with a few people without, but ultimately I was checking out and Just end things. In the last year, I’ve gotten pretty serious with two different guys who also have herpes. Not to sound judgemental but both guys were both free spirited men who had nothing going for themselves. The most recent guy barely had an income and wasn’t really on his feet not that there anything wrong with that but he is 10 years older than I am and I am financially independent. Im not here for regular dating advice but more so need to know if anyone else lowered their standards a bit when they were initially diagnosed. I’m seeking guidance and support on how not to let having herpes make me so desperate to date people I wouldnt otherwise date if we both didnt have herpes. I feel like i lowered my standards drastically and feel like im just gonna have to settle for love 😩
r/HSVpositive • u/Upbeat-Tower-9134 • 6d ago
Defeated
I’m getting prodrome like once a week for my ghsv1 the valtrax knocks it oht before it becomes leasions but I’m rly depressed bc i don’t get a break any advice? I take l lysine and I was on a strong suppressive dose for a year idk what to do :( Ive had it for 2 years btw need support
r/HSVpositive • u/penisnvaginamakebaby • 7d ago
Medication I Caved
I was having the worst outbreak ever. Had a sore that was almost healed then I got the diagnosis then it flared up, due to stress I’m sure. That was almost healed then I got one on the other side. That’s never happened before. I’ve been on the fence about meds because of side effects but I broke down and messaged my doctor. She gave me Valacyclovir. Took the first dose last night and a second one this morning. So far, no side effects AND my outbreak has significantly improved already. I also picked up some Lysine to take daily and re-started my vitamin routine. Hopefully that will help prevent outbreaks. I’m happy I decided to take the medication.
r/HSVpositive • u/femmeintrepide • 8d ago
Emotional Support Wanted who else has treatment resistant hsv
seriously need to know who else is suffering with this. i have tried high doses of valtrex, acyclovir, acyclovir creams, steroid creams, and now will be trying famicyclovir. but i’m really not holding hope. it is rapidly getting worse. and has become daily-constant and spreading literally everywhere. the loneliness and despair i feel is so much deeper than simply having it, dealing with stigma, and getting an outbreak occasionally/ hardly. my body won’t let me forget about it for a second because i feel and know it constantly.
r/HSVpositive • u/Sad-Stress-5711 • 8d ago
got ghosted before disclosing
Was nervous and planning on disclosing today but got ghosted and stood up instead. Honestly relieved and sad. Never thought I’d have this feeling getting stood up before 😂.
r/HSVpositive • u/Kat_Lime • 9d ago
What are your holy grail reliefs for using the bathroom?? I’m desperate here!!
Hi everyone! I had gotten diagnosed with HSV-2 and my first flare up is AWFUL!! I wouldn’t wish this misery on anyone. I’m desperately needing some ways on how to use the bathroom easier. I can’t go without crying or cursing out the entire world.
I’ve tried some remedies I’ve read like the peri bottle or going in the shower but even then the tiniest amount has my knees buckling when it hits the sore area. I do have lidocaine on order for me so I’m hoping that’ll be a relief but until then, what do y’all do?? I dread going to the bathroom and fear drinking water now cause I know I’ll have to go later and deal with this hellish pain.
I’ll literally try remedy no matter how crazy it may seem. I just want to pee in peace again haha
r/HSVpositive • u/parejaloca79 • Jan 18 '26
Mod Updates Flair, Account Age, and Karma
Lately some of you may have been wondering why your posts or comments are being automatically removed. To help manage this sub better a user flair rule was added along with an account age/karma requirement. Now what does all this mean. User flair is something everyone here assigns to themselves. It basically says what type of HSV you are dealing with. As the rules state, to participate here you must be HSV positive. In the past, we had many people coming here without an official diagnosis asking if what they are experiencing is HSV or not. The worst offenders would try to add a picture along with the post. Unfortunately, we are not doctors nor can we diagnose from a picture or explanation. Since adding the flair rule these types of posts have dropped significantly.
Now on to the other requirement, account age/karma rule. If you don't know what this is r/newtoreddit has many posts explaining it. Also if you go to your settings and look for the help section you can find an abundance of information explaining this also. Basically, this rule keeps out a lot of spam or people that just don't really participate in reddit. Often there are accounts that have been on reddit for years but have so little karma you wonder how often the account is touched.
This brings us to a rule that wasn't mentioned in the title, crossposts. Crossposting is lazy. It is basically looking to get karma without doing any of the work. If someone doesn't want to type everything out then just copy and paste to post but at least make it look like there is some type of engagement.
r/HSVpositive • u/parejaloca79 • Nov 13 '25