Telling someone new that you have a long-term STI, in this case, herpes, can feel like the most raw of conversations you could have with a potential partner. That conversation doesn’t necessarily get easier as time passes; rather, you get better at delivering the message. Even so, inherently, you’re always going to be worried that […]
HSV1 – I Don’t Think the Conversation Gets Easier – STI Interviews
Quite frankly, interviewee, after 16 years of living with HSV (HSV2 for me, HSV1 for you), I think you’re right – the conversation sucks all day errrr day. I’ve had it so many times, I can’t even count without some effort, but I still feel the same dread, trepidation, and overwhelming fear I did when […]
My Herpes > Your Self-Loathing – A Love Letter to a Family Member
Angry rant/train wreck commences now: So, without naming names, it’s been brought to my attention that, 3+ years ago, when I launched The STI Project, a family member called my employer to ‘tattle’ on me – they wanted to make sure the Fortune 300 company I was working for knew what I was doing, because they […]
HSV2 – Going to be Forever Alone – STI Interviews
The number one concern we hear when someone is first diagnosed is that they’ll never find a partner who’s willing to accept that they have a long-term infection. While we never say never here at The STI Project, that fear is not at all unfounded. Getting diagnosed with an STI – in this case, HSV2 […]
HSV2 – I Have Lost My Confidence – STI Interviews
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 […]
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 […]
HSV2 – I Wish I Could Go Back in Time – STI Interviews
The number one question we receive at The STI Project is, ‘Will anyone ever want to be with me again?’ Usually included is, ‘How do I date with an STD?’ ‘How do I tell a new partner?’ ‘Can I ever have casual sex or just enjoy sex again?’ The good news is that dating, sex, […]
HSV1 – You Can Lead a Fearless Life – STI Interviews
Having been imprisoned in my own shame and fear for years as well as being very brazen about my experiences now, I’ve seen both sides of the herpes closet… It wasn’t until I stepped out that I realized how severely I had been entrenched in my own stigma. It’s amazing how coming out about your past can shed an entirely […]