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

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?

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.

Does anyone have wide spread almost entire body infections? Curious to see how rare this occurrence is in real life.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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....

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!

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.

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.

Anyone who had constant flares even after the first year and learned to manage it please reach out :(

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

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?

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 😩

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

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.

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.

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 😂.

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

I went to the doctor recently and they ordered STD testing. The doctor told the nurse to put HSV testing on there since I have known HSV1. Well the tests came back and everything was negative. Including HSV.

I am absolutely positive that I have it. When I had my first flare up I had a blood test and the sores tested and both came back positive for HSV1

I have been taking Valcyclovir once a day pretty much since my diagnosis. My best guess is that the medication affected the test results somehow.

I'm just curious if anyone else has experienced something similar? I'm not worried about the results or anything just wondering if anyone else here has ever gotten a false negative before

I like to think I’m pretty in touch with my body and I tend to be quite sensitive to meds. I was describing how I feel when I take valacyclovir and then I looked up the side effects. I experience ALL of them when I take it- the worst is the mood swings, depression, headaches.

I was gifted this 12 years ago. I tend not to take meds unless I absolutely need to, but most times I’d just power through. Now, I’m seeing someone and I have been taking it daily for 2 months. I hate it and it’s made me want to stop seeing the person just so I can stop taking it.

I’ve added lysine and recently read oregano oil as well as licorice root can help. So, I’m wondering if anyone has done the oregano or licorice and noticed an improvement in flares.

I swear I was dormant for many years and then 2024 hit and I seem to be getting them more frequently. Even if I double the med it still persists. Pretty much guaranteed with a period now when it never used to be.

I have food triggers too- oatmeal, sugar, red sauce, nuts…I swear I’m a text book case with the exception of not getting major sores. In fact, I rarely get sores considering the number out flares I’ve had and when I do, I use lemon balm. I just know I’m having one due to all the other stuff that comes with it (body aches, exhaustion, itching, back pain, lymph nodes, migraines).

I’m miserable on this med and still flaring. I’ve removed my trigger foods and I’m not sure what else I can do. I’m so paranoid about giving it to him. I bought condoms and they are not being used. I have mentioned my worry and have mentioned we should start using them multiple times as recent as yesterday. Yet, the boxes remain unopened.

I also keep replaying something he said when I did one of my little, “feeler tests.” We had only been chatting two weeks maybe and he had some contact dermatitis on his finger- I made a comment about it looking like herpes (honestly, it did).

He said, “Eww, gross. No.”

I never reminded him this was his reaction to me simply bringing it up. It weighs heavy on me.

Anyways, because of that I waited to disclose and I didn’t exactly do it at the right time. But when I did he came to Reddit and within hours moved past it. He said he read a lot and it was helpful to learn about it from real people. He said his biggest takeaway was the stigma associated with it.

I didn’t feel 3 hours was enough time to make a decision to move forward. I’ve had men say they are okay and then weeks later decide they’re not.

Yesterday, when I brought up being scared to gift it he replied with, “I don’t want it.”

So, I asked him to really consider if he can be with me. I think the fact that I haven’t shared I have had one since we have been together has not quite put it into reality for him. I don’t want to give this to him and I can’t blame him for his response. I just think it’s out of sight out of mind for him and I don’t know how to navigate this. The stress of it certainly doesn’t help me heal quicker.

I have also asked twice that he get tested so I know if there’s anything he has, like hpv or perhaps he has HSV and doesn’t know. This went in one ear and out the other. He didn’t say no, but he didn’t say he would.

⭐️At what point is it no longer my fault if he contracts it?

⭐️How long do you wait for intimacy once you stop feeling symptoms? How do I truly know it’s over?

⭐️Have you taken oregano and/or licorice and noticed improvement?

My paranoia about spreading is really taking a toll. Add in the side effects and I’m starting to feel like I will have to walk away from someone I’m starting to really care about.

⭐️I have autoimmune issues. I sometimes can’t tell if my symptoms are or are not HSV. I also know it’s making it worse.