Dating Someone with Herpes
Meeting that special someone that you can settle down with and spend the rest of your life with is pretty much an important goal for most people. Getting married and raising a family is considered the natural course of life, and when you finally meet “the one”, it can feel like your life is complete. For individuals that are infected with herpes, this life plan can take a frustrating detour, as many people with the virus feel like they are damaged goods, and that they will be alone for the rest of their lives.
The truth of the matter is, it is estimated that up to 16 % of Americans are infected with the herpes virus, so that makes for quite a few people that may be looking for a relationship. Herpes does not discriminate, and there are many people out there that are willing to overlook the herpes diagnosis of their partners in exchange for a fulfilling life with someone they love. When the proper precautions are taken, such as using condoms and dental dams during sexual activity, the risk of transmitting the virus is substantially lowered.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there are also dating sites that are filled with members with the same diagnosis. It is very possible in today’s world to find a partner that also has herpes, allowing couples to live a long and happy life together, despite their diagnosis. Positive Singles is a site designed for people dealing with herpes, HIV, and HPV, and it serves as both a dating site as well as a site where people have a chance to talk to others via message boards in order to support each other and learn more about their disease. Another site that focuses specifically on the online dating aspect is called Herpes Passions, where registered members are up front and honest about their status, and they are able to find potential mates that are going through the same thing.
The stigma of herpes is based on the fact that it is a sexually transmitted disease. There is no stigma attached to individuals that have chronic cold sores, which is also a form of herpes, so why should it be any different simply because of the site of the infection? It may seem hard to look at herpes this way, but in no way should people feel ashamed of the fact that they contracted a virus that is simply out of their control. Every day, new and innovative treatments are being tested, so hopefully, one day herpes will be something of the past. Until then, it is perfectly fine to date and search for love just like everyone else in the world.
Women can still have children if they are infected, and they are usually advised to have a cesarean birth to avoid infecting their child. There are so many ways to avoid the spread of herpes, and it is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. In a perfect world, there would be no disease, but unfortunately, that is simply not a reality in the present time. By taking the proper precautions, individuals with herpes can live healthy, happy lives, and they too, can find that special someone.
The first step is being honest with yourself as well as any potential mates about your condition. You may find that your partner is completely fine with the fact that you have herpes, or you may find that they are simply not the one. Honesty is the best policy when it comes to revealing your diagnosis, and you deserve a chance at love just like everyone else. By maintaining a positive attitude and taking an honest approach, finding your soul mate is a definite possibility for your future.