I have had this for almost 2 years now and have been heartbroken everytime I tell the person Im dating. They still want to be my friend but its too weird after. I told my most recent boyfriend and he said he does not want to put himself in that position. I have to respect his choice but am I ever going to find someone who is ok with it? I am sick of feeling like my love life is over. I just need to hear some encouraging stories to remind me that maybe one day ill tell the person im dating and he'll be ok with it. Please I am going through a hard time right now. Thanks

Oh dear, I know the way you feel. I am also in a somewhat similar situation. I recently have begun dating but the fear of telling a girl that I have this genital herpes disease is extremely uncomfortable to me and her. SO.. I'm thinking one of the solution to this problem is to find a partner that also has genital herpes that respect and accepts the situation your both in. (I mean there's about what.. 1/5 Americans, 20% of the population with this disease? Thats a couple million people out there..) Hopefully this will lead to better sex lives for you and me. =)

The problem with the 20% statistic is most of the people who have it don't know it.

To find a sex partner I suggest making sure they really are emotionally involved first. Then explain precautions that would make the risk of them getting it very small. Do you break out often? You already passed the most contagious first year. Do you take suppressive medication? Transfer without OB is small, wash with soap and water before and after hope for the best. Let them see that you are a normal person, that your OB doesn't bother you that much...hopefully they will see that you are worth the risk.

Search for the happy couples thread and you will see plenty of stories of people with herpes who found someone.

well im going to stick to online dating because even though 1/5 people have it not all of them know it! and i just see so many heartbreaks along the way i think it wud b easier to meet people online then we break up for another reason other than that fact that i have an STD

I just told my bf that I had it and may have passed it to him. He was so surprisingly supportive that I was surprised. We got him tested and he was negative but at the time of his test it was exactly 3 months so I will have him test again in another month or so. My point is not all men leave, if a guy is really into you and mature enough, he'll realize that love is so hard to find and herpes is not a good enough reason to turn away from someone they care about.