A herpes diagnosis can send even the most balanced person into emotional depression. It is an incurable disease and, although it is not fatal and is considered a mere nuisance by the medical community, it is taboo throughout society. Chances are you feel incredibly lonely, isolated, dirty, and angry. If you are single, you are also concerned about your chances of having a healthy and fulfilling love life. Depression is a very natural reaction when suffering from the herpes virus, but now is the time to educate yourself and learn what you can do to overcome these feelings and live a normal life.
The main myths about herpes dispelled:
1. I can’t have children: This is absolutely 100% FALSE. The herpes simplex virus will not prevent you from having children, nor will you be able to pass the disease to your children in the womb or during the process of conception. HSV type 1 (oral) and type 2 (genital) are contracted through skin-to-skin contact. This is why the virus is considered by many in the medical community to be more of a dermatological disease, although it is often transmitted through sexual contact. You will get herpes through seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, or blood. If you are male, you can still reproduce, and if you are female, you can still conceive. It is important for your doctor to know your status in advance because, in most cases, a woman with genital herpes will have a caesarean section (cesarean section) instead of having a vaginal delivery to reduce the chances of the child coming into contact with the virus in the vaginal canal.
two. I can’t donate blood: FAKE! The inability to donate blood is another common misconception associated with the herpes virus. Let me say one more time: the herpes simplex virus is not a blood-based virus. When you get herpes, oral or genital, it “lives” inside the body’s nervous system. If you have an oral it usually rests at the base of your neck, when you have a genital it rests at the base of your spine. When it’s inactive, it just sits there, harmless, but when it’s active, it travels through the nervous system to the location of the outbreak. According to the Red Cross and all medical studies, donating blood when you have HSV is perfectly safe. They ask you to avoid doing it when you have your initial outbreak or even subsequent recurring outbreaks.
3. I can no longer work or hang out with children: FAKE! The guilt and depression associated with the virus tend to cause some patients to withdraw from the world. They feel like they are the most disgusting person there is and go to great lengths to avoid interacting with people, especially children. Once again, stop punishing yourself! The chances of casually transmitting the virus to children are very slim. Did you know that approximately 75% of the US population has some form of HSV; for the vast majority, it is type 1, oral herpes? Don’t let your diagnosis stop you from living your best life possible. The virus is now spread from skin to skin, so common sense hygiene practices are in order when dealing with the public. Keep your hands clean, avoid touching the sores during flare-ups, and keep your hands away from your mouth and eyes.
Four. My sex life is over: Herpes will certainly change your sex life, but it’s far from over. You will definitely need to be careful, more responsible and less spontaneous… but you can have a full and happy sex life. You’re also not limited in the type of sex you have, you’re just limited in the ability to be “carefree.” However, this can be a good thing, so don’t worry.
5. No one will want a serious relationship with me: FAKE! I will not try to paint a rosy picture of easy dating and acceptance by everyone you meet. Relationships aren’t easy to begin with, and that’s even more true when you have an incurable disease of any kind. Others may give it a try, only to later decide they don’t want to take that risk. You may also decide that you prefer to only go out with other people with herpes, if that is the case, there are thousands and thousands of people waiting to meet you. There are several great online dating sites for people with the herpes virus, including PositiveSingles.com and MPWH.net.