Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Herpes Doesn't Mean the End of Your Dating Life

By Jayde Johanssen

You're just back from the doctor, and the tests confirmed your fear: you've contracted herpes. It might take a little time to get used to the idea that you'll have this Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) for the rest of your life, but it's certainly not the end of the world. Folks that have herpes are just like everyone else; the only difference is that they need to exercise a bit more caution before engaging in sexual activity.

A good place to start is with a basic introduction to what herpes is all about. Herpes is a virus that is transmitted during sex between a "carrier" and an uninfected person. It's important to realize that, with current medical technology, herpes doesn't have a cure. That means you should come to grips with the infection sooner, rather than later. Sometimes, you'll have blisters or sores that can be pretty itchy and irritable.

You're probably wondering what herpes means as it relates to your dating life. The biggest thing is honesty; you'll want to tell your potential partners up front about what the infection is, how it can affect them, and the risks they endure by engaging in sexual activity with them. Of course, you don't have to go through all of this over the first dinner date. The main thing to avoid is having the conversation right before you get into bed for your first time. Talk about a mood killer! The result is usually tears and angry, slammed doors. Avoid this situation by being frank and open early in the relationship.

You may also want to take a look at the various sites that cater to people with herpes. There are numerous benefits associated with these services. For instance, everyone on these sites knows exactly what you're going through. They can offer a crutch to lean on in times of need. You'll also never have to go through the awkward "I have herpes" conversation.

Folks with the herpes virus don't always show symptoms, but it's still crucial to let potential partners know the deal, regardless of whether you have sores or not at the time.

You'll want to avoid having sex while you're suffering from an outbreak, because the chances of transmission to your partner are much greater during this period. Though anti-viral drugs that limit and control outbreaks are quite expensive, you should definitely consider them if you want to limit herpes' effect on your life.

Another important thing to remember is that protection is the name of the game.. Remember that there are other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) that you need to think about, aside from herpes, including AIDS and Hepatitis C.

When everything's said and done, remember that the person you're meant to spend the rest of your life with will love without regard to whether you have herpes or not. This is only one bit of your life, and not something that needs to define you.

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