Hi - I came on here to find testimonials because I am finally looking into taking valtrex to control my herpes. What I found were a lot of women who are concerned that they will not be able to find another relationship now that they have herpes.

I always got cold sores since i was a kid. when I was 24 I fell in love with a woman who had genital herpes. She told me about it, and since I loved her we stayed together, and had unprotected sex for 4 years. then we broke up.

Naturally I assume I now have genital herpes and oral herpes. I still get cold sores, but not yet genital ones.

Three months ago I started seeing another woman - gorgeous and brilliant; i didn't want to lose her. About a week into the relationship, when we were going to have sex, I told her the story of herpes and my ex. I told her that at the time I was in love and thought herpes was worth the cost - and that I would do the same again.

she was a little freaked out that night - but in the morning we talked again and we decided that we would be very careful with safe sex. Two months later I could feel an OB coming on my lip. I told her I thought one was coming, and we didn't kiss for two weeks. We even made a little fantasy out of wearing bandanas over my face (or both of our faces) during sex!!! We are still together.

the moral - don't worry!! be knowlegable and honest, and no herpes in the world will stop you from a great love life. you'll find that people are remarkably understanding (and odds are they have it themselves).

as for the valtrex - for me it'll reduce the annoyance, but no matter how well it works on me, I will always tell my lovers my story - and I don't expect to be turned down because of it.:cool:

Hi

It was really good to read your story, I'm glad there are people that feel the way you do. I'm 24 and have just found out I have herpes a few months ago. I met a great guy but was to scared to tell him so I finished it with him which I regret because he is now back with his ex, I really hope I can fid someone that won't mind the fact that I have herpes, thanks for giving me a little bit of hope. x

I just bumped up an old thread called "happy couples". You may want to read it as it offers a lot of positives on relationships while living with herpes.

well im happy for you but i will say this you may have been lucky because yes there are people out there who will stick by your side but before you find that person there will be some people along the way who will be disgusted at what you told them. so when i think about starting new relationships i know that eventually i will find someone but then i also have to think about how many rejections along the way before i get there. so despite your testimonial i am still depressed

If you begin your relationships by getting to know each other personally and wait until you become genuine friends before making out - then when it comes time to tell (before sex? before unprotected sex?) you'll have much better results. it all starts with respect and a personal connection and they will see past what is actually a small thing when it comes to love.

Unfortunately the "Happy Couples" thread is considered too old to post on. That thread had some excellent testimonials and was a help to so many people over the last 2yrs. It's a shame it couldn't have become a permanent feature at the top of the herpes board and kept there. I think you might be able to still read it, but not add to it.

As for receiving several knock backs along the way to finding a partner who will commit to you, herpes and all, you must remember that even people who do not have herpes often suffer knock backs before they find their ideal partner.

Sometimes it depends on the person you have started dating, how soon you tell them, when and where you tell them, how informed you are about herpes. The other thing is that perhaps they might not be sure of you as a partner to commit to in the first place, then you tell them that you have herpes and they use the herpes as a way of excusing themselves out of the relationship. Then there are those who have no understanding of STD's, let alone herpes and they hear "STD" and their brain automatically thinks "HIV" and they run scared.

Just think, if you did not have herpes, would you date a girl/guy who had genital herpes? would you be broadminded enough to accept it and be willing to learn about? Some say they wouldn't, but it's very uplifting to see that so many herpes sufferers have actually found long term partners who are accepting enough to love unconditionally and even be willing to have the herpes virus passed onto themselves.

You have to stay positive as negative energy simply makes things worse. In life a lot of things can go bad, whether you catch herpes or end up in some other crisis, but you have to make the best of a bad situation and find positives.