Interestingly, STI stigma – and in this case, HSV2 stigma – often transcends intimate relationships and can trickle into one’s public, professional, and social personas. Contracting an infection carries such immense shame that it can deteriorate confidence in all facets of life, not just the intimate ones. As this interviewee points out, she’s not only […]
HSV2 – I Cry Behind Closed Doors – STI Interviews
Relationships and living with an STI/STD – in this case, HSV2 – can be complicated. No one wants to be rejected by a partner, even though it happens to everyone. However, a rejection or what feels like a rejection as a result of an infection can truly erode your self-worth because of the incredible stigma associated with […]
Genital Herpes – Finding Forgiveness – STI Interviews
From the interviewee’s doctor accusing him of cheating on his wife to the years of being unable to talk to her about outbreaks, this interviewee’s story speaks to the turmoil that can exist internally and within an intimate relationship after an STD diagnosis – in this case, genital herpes. 1. How old are you? 56 2. What do […]
Molluscum – Doesn’t Have Such a Big Stigma – STI Interviews
Molluscum contagiosum or MC is one of those borderline STIs that few people know about and that rarely gets sensationalized in the media. When children contract it, it’s not considered an STI/STD, but when adults get it, it’s almost always sexually transmitted. As such, stigma surrounding the infection is lower than some of the more […]
What It’s Like to Get STD Testing Done with a Private Provider
At The STI Project, we make a point to personally try all of the services or products we recommend on our site. Our policy is that if we do not believe in the efficacy of the product or service, we don’t suggest it to our readers. It’s as simple as that. Last month, I had […]
Why We Love Comprehensive Sex-Ed (and You Should Too)
This guest post was written by one of our contributors, Social & Behavioral Health Expert, Janelle Knowlton, MPH. Sex – it’s an act that humans and many other living things engage in for pleasure and/or reproduction. Most people will, whether for pleasure or reproduction, someday have a sexual encounter. However, there is a cause for concern […]
HSV1 – I Feel Like I Have this Flaw – STI Interviews
One of the many reasons we post others’ stories is to help erode the idea that an STI (whether temporary or long-term, and in this case, HSV1) should be looked at as something a new partner needs to get over or accept – a flaw, if you will. Sure, no one wants a cold, the […]
Chlamydia, HSV2, & HPV – It Doesn’t Bother Him – STI Interviews
It’s interviews such as this one that speak to the value of having access to resources and educational tools that support and encourage sexual health. Quite often, we’ve found that a person’s opinion about their diagnosis improves with time. For some, it takes longer than others [read: it took me years and years to overcome […]