Have you ever had an STD or an STI?

My cousin has herpes, there’s two types • HSV-1
Usually causes oral herpes, also known as cold sores, but can also cause genital herpes. HSV-1 is spread through oral contact, and most adults have it. 

 • HSV-2
Usually causes genital herpes, but can also cause oral herpes. HSV-2 is spread through sexual contact.
I could be wrong but there isn’t a curing of them it’s more so something you manage which is 100% possible. A lot of people have herpes and you probably don’t know. It’s really not as gross as people make it out. If you stay on top of medication and don’t be irresponsible when it comes to sexual contact it shouldn’t be an issue for you

I had a similar thing and that's the fist thing they tested me for and I felt the same luckily it wasn't so they tested it for cancer(labia cancer) and luckily it wasn't turned out to be a really swollen lymp node which went away on its own xx

@Samantha I’m scared as I’ve never had it before and I’ve never had a cold sore. But I’m scared to even kiss my baby. As I may have genital herpes and I’ve got a sore throat. I also got told by the nurse it’s curable as she gave me tablets just incase it is herpes but then I looked it up and it doesn’t ever go away it just stays there and breaks out sometimes. So if I haven’t got any symptoms do I tell my sexual partners or don’t I have too? As online it says I don’t have too if not got it at the time but I don’t know! X

Don’t feel gross at all, near enough everyone has the herpes virus in them from day one, it’s just needs to be “activated” or passed on. It’s not something that is curable but most people will only experience one flare up in their lifetime. If I’m correct, I think they can freeze them off like they do with warts…. Also get in contact with your gp, they should offer you some cream to apply

@Gemma did yours look like ulcers? They were red yesterday but now turned more of a browny colour today. I hope it’s not anything to be honest but who knows got to wait for results. X

I have herpes, I had my first outbreak at 4 weeks pregnant and found out I had hsv and was pregnant on the same day 🤦‍♀️ it is unfortunately not curable and highly transmissible. Luckily there is antiviral medication that you can take to help with outbreaks, and if you get outbreaks often then you can take the antiviral all the time as a preventative. Don’t feel gross, it just happens and it’s possible to spread it without even knowing you have it. My one piece of advice is do NOT wear pads while you have an outbreak because the excess moisture will make it take much longer to heal. You want them to stay as dry as possible!

See mine did not turn brown it was allways bright red it did look like a ulcer they also gave me some antiviral meds called aciclovir .the use for herpes but did nothing as it was not that but form my research genital herpes there is no current cure but is manageable and they say the first break out is worse it may really itch and burn when u wee if it touches it but there is also a cream u can get from a GP it says to help the pain honestly don't feel gross the statistics of people that actually have herpes is quite high try not to worry I know it's easier said than done but wait for the results if it's not I'd ask your GP to see if its swolen lymp node and that can also be painfull but no itch xx

@Samantha like I am single right now but like how do I tell my next partner I’ve got/had that like?🤦‍♀️ they’re not going to want to do the deed with me as they’ll catch it. Honestly I’m such a wreck😩 I’m thinking the worst and I feel like crap because of it x

John wick wouldn’t have been able to get this information out of me. U are so brave to say this here.

@Gemma they’ve given me that med! I’m starting it tomorrow for 5 days. I just don’t understand like I’ll always have it but won’t show symptoms is that right? It is so itchy and painful 😩x

@Kaykay🇬🇧🇹🇹 this is why I’ve posted on incognito. I get why you feel like that but you shouldn’t. I feel this topic isn’t spoken about enough and is way more common than you think

Honestly just tell them straight up, once you know what kind you have if you have it then you will know what precautions you will have to take to protect him. I know it’s stressful but you’re better off telling them before they end up with it. If they aren’t willing to take those risks then you know they aren’t the one for you

You legally have to tell them or it’s biological terrioism(definitely did not spell that right), not trying to scare you but please tell everyone that you think you might be in close contact with like that

@Kaykay🇬🇧🇹🇹 let’s be less judgemental next time. We are all moms and I’m sure she didn’t go seeking this. This is not a gross thing if you properly take care of it.

@Samantha shut up I wasn’t being judgmental I just said what I thought. If people don’t want people to say how they feel don’t post it

I know it seems like many people won’t want to be with you but both my cousin and my mil have herpes and they both have spouses. You just have to find the one that won’t mind as much 💕

I meant brave in a good way I wasn’t trying to be rude I was just proud that you could speak out

Yeah u will allways have it but sometime not show symptoms and sometimes u will it can flair in periods and stress xxx

You could have had the virus for years, and it's only just now decided to flare up. If it is herpes, the person who gave it you might just be a carrier, so they might not even be aware they have it. It can lay dormant in anyone's body. This is why it's hard to tell who's passed it unfortunately. You may only have this 1 outbreak and never see them again only tell will tell. Millions of people have it don't stress. The meds will help you pretty quickly x

@Samantha do you? When I looked it up it said if you’re not having a break out you didn’t have too🤷🏻‍♀️ maybe I should look it up again to make sure! I know it’s just awful ain’t it as people look at it as being “gross” when that’s not the case x

@Kaykay🇬🇧🇹🇹 it’s okay, thank you! I just feel it’s “shaming” and it isn’t spoken about enough.

The thing is if someone ends up with it and wants to say something against you, unless you have. Proof of no breakouts and medication I’m not sure 100% how it would work. But my cousins always told them right away, it’s easier then getting attached to the person then getting heartbroken because they don’t want to be with you because of it. I would just recommend to tell them anyways, but no judgement it’s obviously still your choice💕

I had chlamydia in college after my boyfriend at the time cheated on me. He only told me about it after we broke up and then the girl he cheated with reached out to him saying she tested positive. At that point I had already hooked up with someone else (months after we had split) and had to tell him. It was a really hard conversation, and that's one you just have to take antibiotics for. I can't personally imagine what it would be like to have to disclose it every time you're seeing someone. I will say, a close friend of mine is married, and her husband didn't know he had a cold sore and went down on her, and she contracted genital herpes from that. They use condoms, and when they were trying to have a baby, she had to take meds to make sure she didn't have a breakout during that time so they could go without protection. She also has to take them any time she has a flare. Baby was born totally healthy, no HSV. It's not a death sentence, just annoying. It shouldn't be as taboo as it is.

@Samantha I’m really annoyed if I’m honest as if it is herpes, the man I had s*x with last, told me he was clear. He’s a friend who I trusted and I’m so annoyed! But yes I get what you’re saying! X

I am sorry for you guys that have it! When I met my husband I was really naive and didn't think much about things, especially because he was my first sexual/kiss partner and I was a virgin. He went to test himself for all STD/STI and only after everything came back negative he started getting intimate with me. Looking back now I am so thankful for how considerate he was. I am genuinely curious how people go about this topic when they know they have something like that or they don't test themselves

You can't blame the man u last had sex with. It may not be from him. Like I said above, it could have laid dormant in your body for years, and only now your body is having a flare-up

No I get that 100% some people are inconsiderate in that way. I’m sorry you had to go through this though, it’s really not the worst thing to have to deal with but definitely still something that affects you💕

@Jessica sorry there were so many replies I didn’t see your comment. I thought herpes only took like 3 months to show tops not years?? 😳

Up to 7 years it can lay dormant

@Samantha that’s just crazy!

It's okay ☺️ & nope honestly you could have had it for a very long time. You can carry .. pass the virus on and still never have outbreaks! A bit like covid was 🤷‍♀️ pot luck. That's why millions have it, but a lot of people will not know about it. Then, if you have been run down or stressed, anything like that it can trigger an outbreak. Your meds will work quickly, and you will be comfortable soon☺️ and as for telling someone, I'd personally use condoms and if you know it's going to be a long-term partner, then have the discussion then. If the man is mature & and educated, this will not be an issue. Also, you will always no when an outbreak is about to occur before it appears. Look out for a "tingle/itch" sign, then start your meds immediately. This will help your outbreak to be a lot less painful x

@Jessica the no outbreaks spreading only stands for the first strain of herpes

@Jessica thank you so much! I’m just sat here and feel like crying for being so stupid 😭🤦‍♀️ I know I could of had it ages before now but now knowing it’s a huge possibility I got it makes it 10x worse! Thank you so much it means a lot x

@Samantha what do you mean Samantha? Sorry I don’t understand can you explain xx

Do not feel ashamed and fuck anyone who shames you. We need to be open and honest and unashamed about talking about STDs/STIs because a lot of times that’s how they end up spreading. Someone finds out they have something and are too embarrassed to tell partners and they spread it to others. Now with Herpes it is a lot different. The mouth one can be spread just by kissing or sharing a cup. And both types can remain dormant or known for years and can only be spread with an outbreak. It’s about being open and honest with partners. Letting them know what you have. And that it is not contagious unless you are having an outbreaks. That using condoms protects. And if a partner has a problem with it they’re not the one. But being honest is really most important because they have no right to be mad at you if you are honest. They do have a right to be mad if you are not and they find out.