Last Updated on February 18, 2021 by Jenelle Marie Pierce, CSE, Executive Director
Having experienced how painful it can be to have your personal information circulated in a rumor, I’m thoroughly impressed by this interviewee’s resolve to move forward and remove the toxic people from her life.
Whether true or not, details about your health, your body, and your sex life are no one’s business but your own. People who spread rumors under the guise of ‘warning people’ are really just trying to harm the individual in the rumor out of spite, jealousy, insecurity, or a combination of those things.
As long as HSV1 and HSV2 are the butt of jokes among friends, on TV shows, or used as punchlines in comedy skits, people will view it as an acceptable way to shame someone. However, so many people experience a form of the herpes virus at some point in their lives, many without realizing it, that those rumors and jokes eventually become about everyone, and then they’re no longer funny or even relevant.
1. How old are you?
20
2. What do you do for a living?
College student
3. What STI/STD do you have/have you had?
HSV1 oral and genital
4. How long have you had or known you have an STI/STD?
Since November of 2013
5. Do you know how you contracted this STI/STD?
An ex-boyfriend who cheated and showed no symptoms
6. How has your life changed since you contracted an STI/STD?
I have had to be completely honest with my current boyfriend. Because my ex was an athlete, rumors circulated. It’s been difficult to know who is really my friend and trustworthy or if it’s someone who will just spread more rumors.
7. Do the people who know you have an STI/STD treat you differently than they treated you before they knew?
One guy tried to get my current boyfriend to break up with me because of it. I got lucky, because I found someone who loves me for me and understands its difficult for me sometimes.
8. Are you currently under treatment for your STI/STD? If so, please share whether you have explored prescription medication, over-the-counter medication, or holistic and natural approaches.
Currently, I only take medicine when I have a outbreak. Its not something I want my insurance to find out about, because my father has access to all medical records for me.
9. Has having an STI/STD hindered past relationships?
Some people have decided to stop speaking to me. The way I look at it, they were never true friends to begin with if that is how they want to treat me now.
10. Do you have a significant other? If so, how has this STI/STD affected your partner?
He was scared at first, because the rumor got to him before I felt like I needed to tell him. We were not sexually active yet because of my own precautions, but he came over and heard me out and still loves me to this day.
11. Have you been sexually active with someone since contracting STI/STD whom you did not tell you had an STI?
No.
12. How have you changed as a result of contracting an STI/STD?
I go through a lot of ‘sad moments,’ especially when something triggers memories of the person who gave it to me.
13. Why are you choosing to participate in this interview and/or is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I read about this website in Cosmo when I was having a particularly rough weekend, and I enjoyed hearing other stories, so maybe mine will help someone else like the ones I read that helped me.
Can you relate to this interviewee? Did it help you to read someone else’s story? Have you experienced something similar or do you have some feedback to share with this individual? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
