I have met a man that I am interested in he told me he has herpes is there a way to protect myself and start a sexual relationship with him he is a very decent and honest person

Having herpes is not the end of the world.

Condoms do protect to some degree but are not 100%.

There is a thread there about couples. Look it up and read read read. There are many many stories of couples that have been together from the beginning of time practically and the non herpes one still has not contracted the virus.

good luck

Hi there,

The best thing you could do is speak to someone at a sexual health clinic so that you know the information is correct. From what I have learnt (as i have been told I have herpes) is that condoms will protect you if it covers the area an outbreak is occuring in but obviously not if it occurs on an area of skin that is not coverd by the condom. My experience is that my outbreaks have occured in roughly the same place every time, also there is a chance of asymptomatic shedding - passing the virus when there are no symptons presesnt. This can happen a week before or after an outbreak, but I have been told the chances of this happening are the same as the chances of a condom failing to protect against pregnancy. And as time goes on this becomes much less frequent and i think may even stop altogether. If you like this guy I hope you give him a chance and it works out - he must have been so brave to tell you, something I haven't had the guts to do yet - i just run a mile! even though I know at the end of the day it's just a cold sore on an embaressing part of your body, good luck and take care. xx