I was struggling with if I should come out or not, or if it was safe since the passing of my grandmother (the only openly supporter of gays in my family), and the separation of my parents was already going on. I stayed with my mom and brother after the divorce. She lost house after house, and we eventually moved into a motel where I spent three months sleeping on the floor. I was deeply depressed.

My life was a mess and going nowhere. I wasn’t in school or working, and I spent my days on my phone watching YouTube. That is where I discovered a dating app called Grindr. A YouTube star, Shane Dawson, mentioned it in a comedy skit he had done and very vaguely described what it was for. It piqued my interest enough for me to download it. I began to use it as a vehicle to explore my attraction to other guys.

The first time I went on Grindr felt like people like myself surrounded me. I very quickly realized this app was a safe space for gay men to find other gay men to hook up with rather than to date. As a nineteen-year-old guy, sex was a huge part of exploring my sexuality. Not long after chatting with an older man, we decided to meet up. I asked him if he was “clean” and he said yes. Clean is a slang term used to describe one’s sexual health status; being clean is to be free of STIs; therefore, the implication of not being clean is “dirty.” Now, in my nineteen-year-old naivety, I believed him when he said he was STI free. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I live in a more conservative city where sex education is sub-par, and sex was discussed in very little detail, and gay sex was not even mentioned.

I was unaware of the high STI rates in my country and of the stigma that comes with testing, leading to many STIs being transmitted just out of fear of getting tested. The older man and I had unprotected sex. I was overwhelmed with adrenaline and elated to have sexual intimacy with a man finally, but it came with a price. I contracted HIV from the first person I ever slept with. A random stranger from Grindr. I never got his name, nor did I care to at the time. I didn’t find out until six months after the hookup, that I had contracted HIV. February 19, 2014. I knew he had given it to me because he was the only person I had ever done anything with and I don’t use drugs. I contacted him immediately after finding out, but he adamantly denied giving it to me and blocked me on Grindr. I created countless new accounts but never saw him online again. To this day I have no idea if he ever went and got tested or treated or how many other men contracted HIV from him.

I was infuriated and felt all hope of living a normal life left me. I wasn’t out to my parents yet, and now I was a stereotypical gay person: a disease-ridden man who liked other men. I battled with thoughts of keeping this information to myself and letting the disease kill me or of telling my parents and possibly being disowned. After sitting with these feelings eating away at me inside, I finally broke down and told my mother.

She thought I was joking when I told her, but when I started uncontrollably sobbing next to her, she broke down too and said to me that she would always love me no matter what. That night, we talked for hours about what I needed to do moving forward to get help, and she told me that we would figure this out.

My mother’s reaction made me feel more confident in disclosing my status to my dad, but his response was not parallel with my mother’s. My father told me that he was disappointed in me and berated me with questions on how I could have possibly let this happen as if this was something that I had actively sought out. His reaction did the opposite effect that my mother’s did, and I wasn’t sure how I would tell my two closest friends, Helen* and Kelly*.

I feared facing the same reaction as my dad, so I told them separately and in different ways. With Helen, I told her on a rainy day after grabbing food while sitting in her car. She reacted with sympathy but followed that day with a week of ignoring me. She eventually told me that she was scared for me and didn’t want to lose me, so she distanced herself from me. Kelly is my best friend and was the hardest person to tell, so I messaged her mother, Diana, and told her what was going on with me and asked her if she could tell Kelly. Diana was like a second mother to me and reacted in the same manner that my mother did: with love and support. Diana agreed to tell Kelly, but she responded the same way as Helen. My two closes friends ignored my existence after receiving my devastating news.

My depression had gone to the next level, a level at which I never wanted to return to. Nine days after my diagnosis, I attempted suicide for the first time. I was institutionalized for a few days and saw therapist after therapist, as well as a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist told me that I would live a normal life, but I didn’t believe him. I hadn’t been taught that while growing up and thought I was going to die prematurely. In March of 2014, I, along with my parents, met with an infectious disease doctor who went over in detail what HIV was, the history of it, and how the medication she would put me on worked to suppress the virus within my body. She assured me that I would be fine, this didn’t sink in yet though. It wasn’t until my second suicide attempt that I would finally become okay with having HIV and believe what I had been told by two separate doctors.

My dad had a co-worker whose aunt had been diagnosed with AIDS in 1984 and brought her to meet me at the mental institution. Her name was Cynthia. She was in her mid-sixties. She smiled when she saw me sitting in my tears at a table in the visitor’s area. She came over, and I stood up to shake her hand, but instead, she gave me a big bear hug. I collapsed into her warm embrace and cried. She hugged me even tighter, stroked my hair, and told me that everything was going to be okay. When I finally calmed down long enough to catch my breath, she wiped the tears from my face and told me about herself. She told me about her diagnosis, what she had gone through, the reality of living with HIV, and what others were going to say. But she assured me that life was a gift and that even with HIV it was still going to be great!

Cynthia wasn’t wrong when she told me about the kinds of ignorance on HIV I would encounter being HIV positive. I have a laundry list of what I wish people not living with HIV knew about it. First and foremost would be student education. When I was in high school, I was taught things about HIV as if it were still 1981. I wasn’t informed about new medical advancements in screening for HIV or about progress in medication for HIV treatment and prevention. This lack of education has impacted millions of people’s perception of HIV and consequently how they go about behaving towards those who have HIV.

On two separate occasions, I had someone close to me think that just by being around me they would somehow result in contracting HIV. They avoided seeing me for over two months after finding out that I was positive, just out of ignorant fear of me being contagious. They dislike germs which is understandable, but their lack of knowledge on HIV deeply offended me and made me feel like I should be put on an island away from “clean” people. The second time I encountered this fear was at my aunt’s house. I was visiting my cousin, and her mom entered the room, offering a glass of water. I graciously accepted the water, and we all moved out into the living room to catch up. Once I finished the water, my aunt took the glass into the kitchen and proceeded to throw it away right in front of me. I almost broke out into tears right then and there.

I also wish people had an accurate perception of HIV (especially in the gay community). I have encountered so many guys who were willing to hook up before I revealed my HIV status, but after I told them, they’d change their minds and didn’t want to hook up anymore. Most of those guys that turned me down were willing to have unprotected sex with me until they found out that I have HIV. The reason this bothers me is because of that ignorant mentality is how I ended up with acquiring it in the first place. Someone saying that they are HIV negative doesn’t mean they are, nor does someone saying that they are positive mean that they can or will pass it on. Condoms are not one-hundred percent effective in preventing the transmission of STIs even when used properly. Hook up culture in the gay community is full of promiscuity, which is perfectly okay, but everyone should be responsible and properly educated on STIs, risk factors, getting tested for STIs routinely, and being open to discussing sexual health statuses. Grindr is one hookup app that has done a phenomenal job at trying to combat the stigma that comes with HIV and educate the LGBTQ+ community that uses the app about HIV and also what it means to be undetectable.

The ignorance about HIV and stigma that surrounds it is depressing, heavy, and sometimes frightening. I have been sent death threats on online dating apps, been called names, and shunned by members from all kinds of communities for being forward with my HIV status.

I am so upfront and open about my status because of the stigma that people living with HIV are sick whores that are going to live a short and unfulfilling life is entirely false. I struggled to get to a point where I accepted my HIV status, but now I feel amazing. I’m in school studying American Sign Language with a 3.91 cumulative GPA. I’m looking forward to the bright and rich future I have ahead of myself; life is amazing in spite of having HIV. I spent the first year thinking about how my life would be different if I didn’t have HIV, but now I’m so grateful that I got it. I have learned and grown so much because of this. I’ve become a better person, and with that, have been able to educate those close to me about HIV and help destigmatize the disease. I understand the reasons why some view HIV as a negative life event, but by educating others about HIV, I believe society will become more accepting and less afraid of those living with HIV.

Through my couple years at college, I have been able to share my story and spread love and positivity about HIV; I plan to continue to share my story, at a four-year school and expand people’s perceptions of HIV thanks to my experiences and the knowledge I’ve gained since being diagnosed.

** Names were changed and everything was anonymized for the student’s privacy **

The post My HIV Story: In the End, I’m Grateful appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

We’re here to talk about the way media intake affects our brains. Captain Planet taught us to care for the environment, Full House taught us to always do the right thing, and modern television has taught us that STDs do not exist outside of a punchline.

We first must ask the question:

Do STDs Even Exist in the Television World?

In some shows, yes. STDs are an actual topic of conversation, but it is oh so rare. We see TV characters get it on pretty regularly. A lot of times, this can be the climax (pun intended) of the show. Some may say that television has gotten a bit too steamy. We, on the other hand, are all for normalizing and destigmatizing sexual health. So… we don’t really care what you’re doing per se, we just want you to be doing it safely and in an open/informed way.

In 2017, fans pointed out that the popular HBO show Insecure did not do the best job at showing its characters’ decisions when it came to safe sex. There was no pause for any kind of discussion about sexual status or protection before engaging in casual sex.

Prentice Penny, showrunner of Insecure, responded to the criticism on Twitter saying, “I really hope people can watch #InsecureHBO without asking if they use condoms. In the writer’s room, we always assume they do.” He goes on to say, “I guess because we are a TV show and it’s fictional. And there’s a lot of things we don’t show but people assume it anyway. We are not a PSA, documentary, non-profit organization. I’m done discussing this.”

It doesn’t necessarily fall on one show’s shoulders to spread public awareness on any issue that their fans seem to be interested in. Equally, even though no show portrays every single time that someone burps or flushes the toilet, it’s not like we assume that they literally never do these things. However, it is concerning how few storylines, in general, include anything to do with safe sex at all.

Does Television Talk About Safe Sex?

The best example of a show that loves sex but hates talking about safe sex, may be Game of Thrones.

Westeros obviously isn’t a real place, but there certainly seems to be lots of sexy time, and there don’t seem to be any repercussions outside of the occasional pregnancy and penis removal. This is especially weird because aren’t the GoT writers trying to kill off characters at every chance possible anyways? Apparently there have been subtle implications of condoms being used, however, condoms don’t protect from all STDs, and there weren’t exactly convenience stores on every corner of those long journeys, so our bet is they either had to pack them and lug them around across the countryside, or simply do without.

So anyway, yeah, in 2017, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did a study which analyzed a sample of popular television programs and found that 0.02 percent of sex scenes feature any kind of conversation around contraception. That’s kind of crazy right?

But don’t All Sexually Active Adults Use Condoms?

A national health report released by the CDC in 2017 revealed that only about one-third of those who are sexually active in the U.S. use condoms. While that may seem like a dismal statistic, it’s actually pretty high compared to the .02 percent of times that condoms were featured on screen surrounding sexual activity. But just imagine how many more people would be encouraged to wear condoms if they witnessed their favorite characters doing the same! Now, this is not to say that television should be a moral compass for your personal life, but we do subconsciously pick up what we digitally consume. We want to be like our TV idols. I think we’ve all gone to our hair salon at one point or the other, stating that we want to look like Rachel from Friends. In the words of my ever-so-wise hairdresser, “We can cut your hair like that, but your face will still look the same.”

What’s the Big Deal?

So I know what you’re probably thinking at this point, “Well STDcheck.com, STDs aren’t really that common, so what is even the point of showing them on tv?” We’re glad you asked.

The CDC estimates at least 20 million new cases of STIs occur per year, and ASHA (American Sexual Health Association) measures that one in two sexually active individuals will contract an STI by the age of 25. The estimated total direct cost of STIs to the U.S. is about $16 billion. That’s right: It costs us money to have STIs!

And how much does it cost to show our favorite TV characters talking about safe sex? Nada. Zilch. Nothing. Taking this route could easily reduce the growing rates of STDs and could save the U.S. literally billions of dollars.

Are TV characters immune to STDs?

All TV characters must be immune to sexually transmitted diseases, as we’ve established that they don’t use protection (unless you’re really sticking to your guns that we should all just assume they use protection).

But yes, back to the question, everyone in the TV world is immune. Let’s go through three examples.

• Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother was said to have dated a total of 200 women by the fourth season of the show, with five seasons after that, it’s reasonable to believe that number went up drastically. While it should be noted that he actually does use a lot of condoms, these do not always protect against STDs. Being as experienced as he is, you’d really think he’d have some sort of conversation with his numerous lovers about his status.

• Jerry Seinfeld from Seinfeld was said to have dated 73 women throughout the course of the show. There is an episode with a condom mishap for George, but their main concern is pregnancy! You would think that Jerry would be a little more knowledgeable, and warn his friends of the other dangers of not having safe sex.

• Don Freaking Draper from Mad Men. Obviously, he had lots of sex, right? He (officially) slept with a total of 17 women throughout the course of the show, but we feel that there may have been more. A lot of this sex was super spontaneous, like, he had just met them. In the 50’s/60’s there definitely wasn’t as much awareness surrounding safe sex, so the show could technically have just been being historically accurate. Side note, Betty Draper does get lung cancer from smoking all the time, so there are some health consequences in the Mad Men world. Just nothing in the nether regions.

Notice anything missing in this list? Oh yeah, women! We had a hard time finding a super sexually active female TV character to add to this list. Maybe because women aren’t usually written as players? Or sexually active? Never to fear, we have a few femme fatales to discuss, but we’re saving them for last.

TV Shows That Do Talk About STDs, Get it Wrong

Yes, now we’re getting to the brass tacks of the matter. When TV does discuss STDs, it is incredibly misinformed! Again we’ve got three stellar examples of misinformation being spread when it comes to STDs.

• Girls is a TV show that’s all about destigmatizing all kinds of things when it comes to women’s reproductive health. They even talk about peeing after sex to avoid UTIs! The “protagonist” of the show, Hannah, is tested for HPV. This is strange, as most women under 30 are encouraged to screen for cervical cancer using a Pap test instead of testing for HPV.  She tests positive for HPV and is extremely distraught. She exclaims that she will now need her cervix “scraped out,” though this is not a medical treatment for HPV at all, in fact, there is no treatment for HPV. Hannah accuses her boyfriend of giving it to her, and he informs her that he was tested the week before and that he’s clean. Funny enough, there is no form of HPV testing for men.

• Michael Scott of The Office is well known for blowing things wildly out of proportion. Upon the development of a cold sore in The Office episode, “Sex Ed,” Michael calls all of his former lovers to inform them that he has herpes and to find who gave it to him. Dwight Schrute encourages Michael to seek revenge from whoever transferred the disease. The entire episode is written with the viewpoint that Michael is acting ridiculously. One of his ex-girlfriends even states, “you don’t have herpes, it’s just a cold sore.” Obviously, Michael should have been tested to be sure that he even had herpes or HSV. Herpes can lie dormant for years, and it can be contracted by even receiving a kiss from a relative as a child. To assume that one of Michael’s ex-girlfriends must have given it to him was just silly, and let’s not even talk about seeking revenge (We’ll save that for another blog post). “Just a cold sore” is herpes. Herpes is very common and really not that big of a deal. Doctors often discourage getting tested unless you show symptoms because the emotional trauma is said to often be of higher impact than physical.

• Dr. Gregory House of the TV show, House, is a pretty quirky dude. He deals with an assortment of abnormal medical conditions throughout the show. In one particular episode called “Clueless,” he diagnoses a man with herpes and informs the man that his wife is cheating on him with their son’s karate teacher. House has never met the wife or the karate teacher. So, the couple comes back to House and demands to know which one cheated, the wife stating that she has never slept with the karate teacher. House explains that herpes can also be transferred through the use of infected toilet seats. The husband accepts this as a resolution, but the wife says that it’s not possible, and is still in disbelief. House proclaims the husband the cheater, as only a cheater would believe such a thing, and view it as an easy out.

So we’re clear herpes can not be spread by a toilet seat, but it’s also most certainly NOT only spread by cheaters! This is one of the biggest lies that television has spread regarding STDs. When a TV character contracts an STD, it is often because they did something wrong. Anyone can contract an STD, and it does not necessarily make you a cheater if you are in a long-term monogamous relationship. Many STDs can be transmitted outside of sex.

Does TV Ever Get it Right?

We all know the age-old phrase, “when in doubt, look to the Golden Girls.” Just kidding, we just made that up, but it’s actually pretty true.

Betty White’s character, Rose, receives a letter in the episode “72-hours” where she is informed that she may have contracted HIV from a blood transfusion six years prior during gallbladder surgery. It takes 72 hours for her to receive results, and during those 72 hours, she gets a glimpse at what life with HIV may be like. Sophia, the oldest of the Golden Girls begins to avoid using Rose’s bathroom, or even any of the dishes that she’s ever used. Blanche consoles Rose, stating, “AIDS is not a bad person’s disease, Rose. It is not God punishing people for their sins.” Sophia conceded, “I know intellectually there’s no way I can catch it, but now that it’s so close to home, it’s scary.”

In the end, all four of the golden girls visit the hospital together for support. Rose is given the clear and ultimately does not have HIV, but the episode reinforces the idea that HIV is not just a “gay disease” and that it can truly happen to anyone.

This episode aired in 1990, when there was still a great deal of stigma surrounding people with HIV and Aids. So, who’s really more woke, a show made in 1990 or modern television? Either way, just remember that TV is not real life. Just because your favorite character doesn’t get tested, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t! It’s important to be aware of your status. If you aren’t, get tested today!

The post Are STDs Stigmatized on TV? appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

The ember of youth no longer burned within me, and I lost my way for a few years. I had to reignite the spark of life within myself. I had to incorporate my new status into a new self and say goodbye to the shreds of my old self. I had to let go of the shame and fear that imprisoned me. I learned that HIV does not have to be a death sentence anymore. I learned that was accomplished because of many voices getting together and speaking out. I discovered science and medicine now allowed me to live a relatively normal life.

We as gay men living with HIV are not sick because we are gay. We are sick and happen to be gay.

I had always loved science and gravitated towards biology. I decided to dedicate my life to helping those with HIV and to find a cure one day. My family stepped in and helped me regain the life that I thought I had lost. Then, and I might say unexpectedly, I fell in love with a beautiful person. I decided to go to college and enrolled at a community college. One day on campus, there was a college transfer fare. I was wandering through the booths when I saw the MD Anderson Cancer Center: School of Health Professions booth. I then set my sights on enrolling in one of their Laboratory Science programs. Eventually, I applied and was accepted into the Bachelors Program in Molecular Genetic Technology. I am now in my senior year, and I cannot help but feel that perhaps destiny was involved on that fateful day.

I wish people would realize how isolated, raw, and vulnerable you feel as you go through life as an HIV-positive individual. Even those who are within the LGBTQIA community shun you and even become angry with you. There are those who feel that HIV is God’s punishment for being gay and/or that you somehow deserve it because you were having “unsafe sex.” That issue is so entangled within the LGBTQIA culture, that members see those living with HIV as the embodiment of their own pain and suffering, regardless of their own status.

I am a gay man and came out when I was 16 years old. I remember being told that no matter what I did or what I accomplished in my life, it would never negate the fact that I was gay. That came from someone whom I loved unconditionally. I will say that I was far from a perfect teenager, and I was troubled while searching for my place in this world; however, that one statement brought me to my knees, and it has never left me.

We as human beings need empathy and compassion to heal. We as gay men living with HIV are not sick because we are gay. We are sick and happen to be gay. That fact is true for whoever contracts the virus. The virus does not care about the color of your skin. The virus does not care about your sex. The virus does not care about your gender identity, your income, or your social status. This virus is nondiscriminatory in its hunt for the CD4 cells it devours to survive. Those are the things I wish people without, and with for that matter, HIV knew about what it’s like living with the virus.

The post My HIV Story: We ALL Deserve Compassion appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

Before we get started, we want to let you know that most, almost all, STDs are dismally common in the U.S. This is a terrible reality, but it may also be comforting to know that if you have an STD, a handful of people around you are likely in the same exact boat as you. We’re a glass half full group of writers, ok.

Moving on, STDs can live inside your body and not show any symptoms (also known as being asymptomatic) or they can be dormant for years. It’s important to stress that symptoms aren’t always present! We do not want you to look at the symptoms in this list and think, “Oh! I don’t have any of those. I’m good.”

While an STD may lie dormant for many years, it can still be high functioning and destructive all while not alerting the body of its presence. The only way to be sure if you do or don’t have an STD is by getting tested. Almost all are curable, minus herpes, hepatitis, and HIV, but we’ll get into those later. Now, roll up your sleeves and let’s dive into these 11 STDs.

Here are the 11 STDs You Need to Know

Chlamydia

This incredibly common STD is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis but is easily cured with a round of antibiotics. It’s transmitted through penetrative sex which includes vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who carries the infection. And yes, you can still get chlamydia even if semen isn’t part of the equation.

Symptoms:

• Painful sex
• Rectal pain
• Throat issues
• Unusual discharge from the penis or vagina
• One or two swollen testicles (although less common)

Problems chlamydia may cause:

According to the CDC, chlamydia can spread to the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID. This can produce pain, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. While chlamydia is most harmful to women, men can still be affected. In men, the tube that carries sperm from the testicles can become infected, causing pain, fever, and although rare, infertility.

Gonorrhea

It’s famously known as the “clap,” and is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It’s similar to chlamydia as it is really common and affects the same organs with similar long-term effects. It’s also expected for gonorrhea and chlamydia to coexist in the body, so it is recommended to test for both at the same time. Gonorrhea is transmitted by vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who is infected. It’s a prevalent STD but is easily cured with prescribed antibiotics.

Symptoms:

• Burning sensation while urinating
• Painful or swollen testicles
• Irregular vaginal bleeding
• Unusual discharge
• Painful, burning, or swollen glands in the throat
• Painful bowel movements
• Anal itching

Problems gonorrhea may cause:

Untreated gonorrhea can cause severe and irreversible health issues in both men and women, In women, this disease can lead to PID, form scar tissue that blocks fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, or long-term pelvic/abdominal pain. In men, it can result in painful conditions in the tubes that transfer semen from the testicles, it may cause sterilization, and, although rare, the condition can spread to your blood or joints and become life-threatening.

Syphilis

Caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, syphilis can become extremely serious if left untreated. Syphilis is becoming more and more common as people have unprotected sex. Its effects are divided into four stages: Primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary. Each stage has different signs and symptoms as it advances. Syphilis is transmitted through direct contact with syphilis sores, and oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse. It is curable; however, there is no reversing any harm it may have caused before treatment.

Symptoms:

• Sores that are usually firm, round, and painless that come and go
• Rashes that typically don’t itch
• Lesions in mucous membranes
• Swollen lymph glands
• Sore throat
• Patchy hair loss
• Fatigue
• Fever

Problems syphilis may cause:

As syphilis damages the body, it can cause paralysis, numbness, dementia, changes in vision, or blindness. Once these occur, there is no way to reverse them.

Mycoplasma Genitalium (MG)

In 2007, this little-known STD became even more common than gonorrhea. It once was considered harmless and just existed as a piggyback infection that hooked onto different diseases instead of it being its own thing. MG, like gonorrhea and chlamydia, has begun to emerge as a significant cause of cervicitis in women and nongonococcal urethritis (inflammation in the urethra that isn’t caused by gonorrhea) in men. It’s transmitted through vaginal, oral, and anal sex. Mycoplasma Genitalium can be cured with a round of antibiotics.

Symptoms:

• Burning sensation while urinating
• Spotting or bleeding between periods or after sex
• Fishy odors after sex and changes in vaginal discharge
• Urethral discharge in men
• Pain and swelling of the joints
• Non-chlamydial, non-gonococcal urethritis in men
• Painful sex
• Vaginal itching

Problems Mycoplasma Genitalium may cause:

As we learn more about MG, we will know the extent of damage it can cause. So far there have been connections to MG and severe long-term issues such as infertility due to pelvic inflammatory disease.

Trichomoniasis

This is the most common curable STD, period. It occurs more often in women than in men and is caused by infection by a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. It’s transmitted during sex, from penis to vagina, vice verse, or vagina to vagina. Trichomoniasis, also known as Trich, is cured just by one dose of antibiotics.

Symptoms:

• Unusual discharge
• Strong vaginal odor
• Pain during intercourse
• Discomfort during urination
• Irritation
• Itching

Problems trichomoniasis may cause:

Trich can cause genital inflammation, make you more vulnerable to other STDs, including HIV, and makes it even more likely that you will pass it on to others.

HIV/AIDS

It was once a devastating blow to be diagnosed with either the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or the advanced version, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). They were once thought a death sentence, but today it is possible to live a healthy and fulfilling life with HIV. In 2016, the CDC estimated that 1.1 million Americans had HIV in 2016 and 1 in 7 wasn’t aware of it. Despite a common misconception, HIV can only be transmitted by coming into contact with infected bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, and blood, not through casual contacts like sharing food, kissing, plates, or holding hands. HIV/AIDS is incurable, but we do have antiretroviral medications to drastically slow the progress of the illnesses and allow those with the diseases to live a long and healthy life.

Symptoms:

• • An unrelenting headache

• • Swollen lymph glands

• • Nausea and vomiting

• • Lack of energy

• • Sores or lesions

• • Diarrhea

• • Joint pain
  • Fever
  • Rash

Problems HIV/AIDS may cause:

Because HIV/AIDS destroys immune cells, the body becomes vulnerable to all kinds of infections and illnesses, as the body is no longer as capable of fighting germs off. Before the medication we have available today HIV took a major toll on the body and led to death.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

At one point in time, HPV was worryingly common, but ever since the popularization of the HPV vaccine came around, the infection stopped spreading as rapidly. It’s transmitted through oral, anal, or vaginal sex with an infected person. While HPV doesn’t have an official cure (recent trials are having success but it is not yet ready for the public), the symptoms are typically treated while the infection usually goes away on its own.

Symptoms:

• Genital lumps or bumps
• Genital itching

Problems HPV may cause:

In most cases, HPV goes away on its own without any health complications. If it doesn’t heal and becomes chronic, genital warts and cancer are potential health issues. It can cause cervical and other cancers such as cancer of the vagina, vulva, penis, and back of the throat.

Crabs / Pubic Lice

What are commonly knowns as “crabs,” are actually pubic lice that under a magnifying glass look a lot like the crabs you see at the beach. They’re super common, and about 3 million people get infected with pubic lice every year. Crabs are transmitted through sexual contact because they live in between pubic hair and move from one body to the other when in close contact, and although rare, they can also pass through infected linens and clothing. They’re easy to get rid of with an over-the-counter shampoo.

Symptoms:

• • Excessive itching in the genital area

• • Tiny crab-like tan or whitish gray bugs in your pubic hair

• • Crab eggs at the bottom of pubic hairs

• • Dark or bluish spots on the skin where the bites have occurred
  • Feeling irritable, feverish, or run-down

Problems crabs/pubic lice may cause:

Other than the annoying discomfort they cause, pubic lice are completely harmless.

Herpes (HSV-1 & HSV-2)

Herpes is a harmless, unreasonably feared STD due to how crazy common it is. It’s most recognized as the sores or “cold sores” it typically causes above the lip (HSV-1) and/or genital area (HSV-2). It’s transmitted remarkably easily, mostly by skin to skin contact with infected areas, even if no symptoms are present. These modes of transmission are most often when kissing, or participating in vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It’s not curable, but there is medicine to manage and dramatically tone down the symptoms, intensity, and frequency.

Symptoms:

• Outbreaks of itchy, painful blisters or sores that come and usually go on the:
  • • Vulva
  • • Vagina
  • • Cervix
  • • Anus
  • • Penis
  • • Scrotum
  • • Butt
  • • Lips
  • • Mouth
  • • Throat
  • • Inner Thighs
    • Eyes or fingers, although rare

Problems herpes may cause:

Complications are rare, but they exist. Studies on Alzheimer’s are finding connections back to herpes, although the exact relationship is still under research. There have been times herpes caused meningitis (infection of the fluid and tissues that surround the spinal cord and brain) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), but this is notably rare. Pregnant women with herpes pose a chance of passing it to the infant during childbirth, and there is a chance of serious damage if doctors aren’t aware of the virus.

Hepatitis B/HBV

This is an infection that affects the liver. It’s transmitted through contact with infected blood, sores, semen, and other bodily fluids. According to the CDC, rates of HBV have dropped from an average of 200,000 per year in the ’80s to around 20,000 in 2016. HBV is serious when it happens in teens and children, but usually, when adults have it, the body normally is able to fight it off. If treatment becomes necessary, it’s typically done with antiviral drugs. If you’ve already had HBV, your body has built up an immune system against it, and you won’t get it again.

Symptoms:

• • Belly pain

• • Fever

• • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
  • Stomach issues (loss of appetite, light-colored poop, vomiting, and nausea)

Problems HBV may cause:

HBV can cause scarring of the liver, and lead to kidney disease, blood vessel problems, liver failure, and cancer. If not eradicated, it is possible to die from a chronic HBV infection.

Now go make good choices.

You now know, if you didn’t already, the most widespread STDs in the U.S. You can make an informed decision on how often to get tested and what to worry most about. Honestly, if you just got tested once (preferably twice) a year you wouldn’t have to worry about them so much, but we can’t force you. Try as we might. You just can’t say you didn’t know. So, some might say that after reading this post, they’re gonorrhea-valuate their choices. 

The post List of the 11 Most Common STDs appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

I remember it so distinctly. I had been feeling sick and a little excited because I thought I might be pregnant. With a new-found relationship and a possible baby on the way, I finally felt that it was my turn to get tested. The day of the appointment the nurse informed me that they now do free HIV testing. Thinking I would pass the test with flying colors, I agreed and thought no more about it. In the middle of my visit with the doctor, there was a knock at the door and a nurse just walked right in. I remember wondering why she’d interrupt us like that. She handed the doctor a piece of paper and then the doctor stared at me in horror and disbelief. She then informed me, “You are HIV positive.” I hopped off the exam table and felt all the blood rush down to my feet. My heart pounded, and my hands started to sweat uncontrollably. Tears streamed down my face as I thought to myself, “Am I going to die? Who will take care of me? What about all my plans? Would I ever be a mother?” The last thing the doctor said to me, as tears rolled down her face, was fight. And that’s what I did, am doing, and will continue to do.

Long story short, three years later, I’m still here, more alive and better than ever. I decided to put my faith in God because only He knows why these things happen. I have done everything expected of me by my doctor; I got in shape, ate healthily, exercised, meditated, and prayed. I’ve had some good days and some bad days. On the good days, I forget I have HIV, and on the bad days I cry out to my heavenly father and take refuge in his presence. My fiance, in all his bravery, is also where I draw strength. We’re still together, but that’s a whole other essay.

Through the grace of God, I have been able to maintain a GPA of 3.13. Pursuing my education is my way of telling HIV, “You are not in control.” I thought I was past the pain of everything, but even as I write this, I can’t help for my throat to get tight and my eyes to puddle with tears. This is my story; this is my song. I have never told anyone these things. Thanks for listening.

The post My HIV Story: I Put My Faith in God appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

Which means that it’s okay for you to make mistakes, but if you don’t learn from that mistake and it happens again? Well, then that’s all on you. This saying can be applied to lending money to that undependable cousin, taking that third shot of tequila, and even STDs.

Now we think it’s important to be clear: just getting an STD doesn’t mean you’ve been fooled by it.

You’re fooled by an STD when you get it, but you don’t realize you’ve gotten it because you’re not getting tested. 

In that scenario, the STD has made a fool out of you. And it’s truly shameful.

So how do you stop STDs from fooling you? Get tested. Then tested. Then tested again.

What are STDs and How do I Prevent Them?

Just a quick refresher in case you forgot: STDs are sexually-transmitted diseases, i.e. disease you can obtain through sexual contact (although, there are ways to get STDs without having sex). The big six in the U.S. are chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, HSV (herpes), and HIV.

The best way to protect yourself from getting an STD is to use some form of barrier protection between you and your night-time friend(s). However, even if protection is used, you can still get an STD. This is because, though most STDs are passed through sexual fluids, some can be transmitted through regular old skin-to-skin contact.

That’s why it’s so important to get tested after every new sex friend. 

I’ve already been tested. Why should I retest?

If you’ve already been tested, you might be wondering “Well why the heck do I need to get tested again?” The following are a few reasons why you should get retested:

Tested Too Soon

Let’s say you recently had your annual STD test, and you were negative for all of them (nice). You walk out of that test center, happy that there isn’t an uninvited guest hanging out in your urethra. Your phone buzzes: it’s the cute guy you hooked up with a few nights ago (nice!). You’re feeling cocky (no pun intended) because 1) He texted you first 2) He ended your dry spell and 3) You just got a clean bill of sexual health. Nice.

Or is it?

Because you hooked up with someone new just a few days before being tested, an STD could have entered into your system, but, when you were tested, the newly introduce STD could have been in an “incubation period.” This means that the STD was too busy settling into your system to bother showing up positive on a test.

It can take up to 12 weeks for certain STDs to show positive on tests. That’s why, even if an STD isn’t detected in your results, we recommend retesting at 3 months post exposure, just to be certain that you didn’t receive a false negative due to those pesky incubation periods.

Risky Situation

Have you recently found yourself in a risky situation? Maybe you had a few too many and ended up doing the no-pants dance with that cute girl from the party.

Risky situations aren’t as much fun as Risky Business (speaking of a no-pants dance), which is what we suggest watching the next time you feel like pushing the limits.

If you found yourself to be in a risky situation which turned into a…sticky situation, you need to be retested. Every time you come into contact with a new person’s inside fluids, either orally, anally, vaginally, intravenously, or topically, you need. to. get. tested. again.

Recently Had an STD

So you recently went to the lab, and it turns out you caught one of those annoying, little STDs. You took your antibiotics, you abstained from sex for a week, and now you’re back on the market. But before you go chasing tail, we have on question: How do you know you’re cured?

You don’t.

Even if your symptoms went away, you can’t be sure that you’re cured of the disease, especially because STD symptoms can come and go. That’s why we always recommend getting retested 3 months after finishing medication to ensure that the treatment worked, and you’re truly STD-free.

Only Tested for One STD

Ok, this one should be obvious, but if you only tested for one STD, you need to be retested for more.

If you tested for one and you were found positive, you should retest for other STDs, especially ones that tend to occur at the same time as the one you’re positive for. Certain STDs tend to occur simultaneously (like chlamydia and gonorrhea), so if you tested and were found positive for one STD, be sure to check out the infections that tend to exist at the same time and test for those as well.

Other than STDs that occur simultaneously, having one STD puts you at risk of obtaining others. STDs can cause the genitals to become inflamed, which makes it easier to contract other sexually transmitted infections.

Also, if you only tested for one STD and you came back negative, that’s great! But you need to test for others. It’s fantastic that you got tested for one, but how can you claim to have a clean bill of health if you don’t know your status for all STDs? Don’t answer that, because you can’t. The only way you can say you’re truly STD-free is to get confirmation that you’re free of all STDs.

It’s Time

If you are a sexually active person, you should get tested at least once a year. No ifs, ands, or buts about it (unless it’s the good kind of butts). This is true even if you’ve been with the same partner, even if you haven’t had much sex, and even if you only did oral once. You still need to get tested!

And if you’re more “at-risk,” we recommend testing more often – even as much as every 3 months. That’s why we say “It’s Time,” because everybody needs to get tested eventually, but that time frame can change based on personal factors. So, set a reminder, create an event, make an invitation. Do whatever you need to do so you know when it’s time for you to get retested. Then go get tested again.

And did you know that returning STDcheck customers get 10% off their purchase? It’s just another reason to get retested, if you ask us.

So When Should You Get Retested?

You know all about why you should get retested for those annoying little STDs. And the real question that you should be asking yourself isn’t “Why should I go get retested?” It should be “When should I go get retested?” Because if you’re not asking that question, you’re letting STDs make a fool out of you.

Don’t let STDs make a fool out of you! Get retested today.

The post Do I need to retest for STDs? appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

On November 6th, a week before my birthday, I was feeling dreadful so I went to urgent care. Blood tests were taken and I spent the next week waiting to find out what was wrong with me. The day after my birthday, a physician told me I was HIV-positive.

A year before my diagnosis I’d lost both my grandmother and mother two months apart while completing the spring semester of 2015. The two women who raised, reared, and taught me all I know were gone. The only thing they didn’t teach me was how to live without them. That lesson, I had to learn on my own, and still am.

Unfortunately, my mother passed away without life insurance. As the eldest child and the only one with income at the time, I was tasked with the financial obligation of her final arrangements. On top of not being able to grieve, the money I’d saved for the remainder of my schooling was utterly depleted. I was devasted.

I wanted to die. I contemplated not taking the meds prescribed to me but was frightened of a slow, agonizing death. I vividly remembered my best friend dying of the virus back in 1989. Fortunately, things have changed and progressed drastically since then. It’s taken quite a while to fully accept that the medication will be a part of the rest of my life. I lost my desire to achieve anything and lived each day for about six months on auto drive.

As time went by, I depended on the support and encouragement of close friends, doctors, and nurses that pushed me back to health. It has been their passion that has given me back the desire not just to live, but thrive.

My life has changed in many ways. I pay more attention to my health, eating habits, I get proper rest; my viral load is undetectable, and my hope has been restored. I am in a healthy, loving relationship, which I thought would be impossible after receiving this diagnosis.

As I’ve gotten healthier, my life has gotten better. I am now doing and fulfilling more than I did before HIV. I went from just waiting tables to make extra money for school to becoming assistant general manager in under a year!

While I still have days that seem bleak, they have lessened, and I can now deal with them in a more focused, healing, and realistic way. I wish that I could take away the initial fear, the constant thoughts of death, and the isolation that comes with the stigma of HIV.

However, I know that I can’t change the past, and it’s probably for the best. If I hadn’t had this experience, I wouldn’t know true courage, I wouldn’t live life with such a purpose, and I wouldn’t have

been so urgent in seeking out a supportive community.

While I am anxious and hopeful for a cure, I want those living with HIV to know that it is not a death sentence. For me, it has been a “life” sentence. Life has newer, more significant meaning to me. My purpose has been injected with fervor. And the promise I made to my mother to finish my degree with a high GPA is going to happen.

The post My HIV Story: Two Losses and a Life Sentence appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

My story of contracting HIV begins at home. I’m originally from Oakland, CA, where I grew up with my mother, brother, and grandmother. In my early 20s, a lot of social strife prevailed within my family, so I decided to move to Oklahoma with my boyfriend. After moving, depression hindered me and I used sex as a coping mechanism. The open relationship my boyfriend and I had was unhealthy because even though he told me he was OK with it, we both knew he was not. I contracted HIV from one of my partners but, fortunately, my ex did not get it from me.

The diagnosis came right before I entered medical school, which ended up being a brutal transition especially since I was a first-generation college student. I barely passed exams, still wrestled with depression, couldn’t pay off medical fees, kept my HIV-positive status a secret from family and friends, and had a continual stream of financial and familial problems. The question, “How could I let this happen to me?” persisted. To cope with all of this, I immersed myself in school and extracurricular activities. But, by doing so, I never made the time to deal with my HIV diagnosis or anything else. Eventually, I broke up with my then-boyfriend because I had caused too much damage to our relationship.

I frequently found myself crying while I was studying because I was reading about my exact experience as a gay black man with HIV. I didn’t realize that studying and talking about depression, suicidal behaviors, and HIV in my classes would be so triggering. I ended up taking a leave of absence in the summer and fall of 2017. I had no idea how much I was suffering. I sought therapy, began taking anti-depressants, and found a community with individuals like me. I began to put my health first because, with all the things I was dealing with, I knew that my institution, family, and friends wouldn’t be able to prioritize me the way I needed.

I am still trying to figure out what self-care looks like for me and, as a medical student, I will always learn more about what it may look like even as I begin to practice.

What I wish others knew about those with HIV is that we come from different walks of life, but we’re all valuable members of their community. We don’t all have substance abuse disorders or struggle with housing. Some of us are changing into scrubs in the locker rooms right next to you. And, while many of us do have complex social needs and are many times overlooked, our humanity is not diminished because of our HIV status.

The post My HIV Story: I Found Out Before I Began Medical School appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

When you are in college, the last thing you expect is to be diagnosed with HIV. I was just like everyone else, enjoying myself in college and indulging in new experiences. I had a careless moment when it came to having sex. I had unprotected sex with someone I knew from my university. This person did not tell me they had HIV or were unaware of it.

Fast-forward to one month later… I began taking medicine but the side effects and I didn’t get along. I had severe anxiety, fear, and depression. I was faced with trying to figure out if it was me or the medicine’s side effects. I ended up switching to a new medicine and felt immensely better afterward. Moving forward was and is all I can do, and it is no easy task. One way that I decided to cope with the news was by starting my own social media campaign called “Journey with HIV.”

The numbers were steadily growing as the page continued. Through this campaign, I offered encouragement to college students who had contracted HIV and were struggling with coping. Weekly, I uploaded inspirational thoughts, videos, and HIV awareness information. I have since taken a step back from this project, but, during that time, helping others cope with HIV really helped me to come to terms with my own experience with the virus.

HIV has impacted my life in so many ways. I had to learn to be okay with not being okay. I had to learn to ask for help. Putting my pride aside was a step that led me to open up to my friends and family about my HIV status. Thankfully, they received the news in a caring manner and wanted to know more so they could help me accept the diagnosis better.

I joined a support group for those living with HIV. I met a sweet older woman who about 35 years ago contracted HIV in Africa. The constant reassurance that she gave me every day helped me accept the fact that I had HIV. I’ve explained to her how I think or feel and she usually has had similar experiences and shares them with me. This woman being introduced to my life has transformed me from someone who merely exists to someone who is always living.

Actually seeing someone who has had HIV for so long helped me realize that life does not end after the diagnosis, but it often starts up a beautiful transformation. I felt inspired to take better care of my health. I’ve begun working out 4 days a week, am omitting fried/fast foods, and try to have mostly vegan meals throughout the week. Taking my medicine every day is a definite change not only because I wasn’t taking it before, but also because each day I’m reminded that I have a responsibility to make sure that this virus is not spread further. It underlines to me that I am an activist for HIV and to end the stigma around HIV/AIDS.

As for people living without HIV, I wish they knew that the stigma isn’t an accurate representation of what living with HIV is like. Today, HIV is the modern day leprosy, but I’d like to prove that it isn’t. We are people who live, think, and feel just like you. I want those that are newly diagnosed with HIV to know that it is going to be okay! You can still do the things that you wanted to do before as well as anything you would like to do one day.

I used to believe that HIV would never allow my life to be the same and that I’d no longer be a functioning member in society. I’ve come to realize that just is not true.

People without HIV need to know that it is manageable. And, once you have an undetectable load, it is not transferable to someone else. We are not contagious in the way most people think, but we are courageous and able to prove to the world that the stigma is wrong. Living with HIV is like living with high blood pressure. You take a pill once a day to keep everything in balance, but you continue to live life like everyone else. I want to encourage everyone to live life to the fullest no matter the circumstances because we all have a purpose.

The post My HIV Story: HIV Can Start A Transformation appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that is extremely contagious and stays with you for life. Genital herpes is usually caused by HSV-2, while oral herpes is normally caused by HSV-1. However, someone carrying oral herpes can give HSV-1 to another’s genital area through oral sex and vice versa. This gives herpes not just one but two outlets from where to spread.

It’s said that about one in six people in the United States aged 14-49 have acquired genital herpes through HSV-2. The CDC states that the overall genital herpes statistic is likely to be higher, thanks to the possibility of getting HSV-1 in the genital region. Taking that into account, genital herpes statistics are often quoted at around 25 percent for women and 10 percent for men in the U.S. The craziest thing: most people don’t know they have it!

Now, before we can throw words like “cure” and “vaccine” around, let’s talk about what they are.

It’s important to note the difference between a vaccine and a cure. A cure, obviously, would heal a person already carrying the virus. Whereas a vaccine is like installing a harmless set of instructions for the body so it knows how to eliminate the virus in case it comes into contact with the body later. A cure eliminates and a vaccine prevents. Cool, got it, but other than being an STD, what makes herpes so special?

What exactly is herpes?

The thing is, herpes is unlike other viruses that have once been fatally common. The virus is different from, for example, the measles virus because measles will make you sick quite quickly as the immune system reacts to its arrival and then is more prepared for the virus should it appear in the future.

Herpes, on the other hand, doesn’t always show symptoms immediately. The virus sometimes never even alerts the body of its presence, other times the symptoms come and go, and still other times, it’s severe, rapidly creating symptoms after it’s been acquired.

The span of time that herpes can be asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) can vary from weeks, months, years, or even decades! This lovely characteristic is called virus latency. Oh yeah, and its ability to incorporate its own genetic material into the genetic material of the infected person (yeah, it becomes a part of you) is also part of the latency characteristic. Nice.

Once HSV infects skin cells, it then moves to nerve cells in the DNA and attaches itself with a relentless grip.

The herpes virus’ DNA is more complicated than most other infections and is frustratingly ninja-like while it sneaks past our immune system. Kind of like cancer. The sneaky ones do as much damage as possible without alerting the host and are currently impossible to shake. This sneaky creeping and holding back of symptoms makes herps a latent disease. Intense right?

What are vaccines and what can and can’t they do?

So, we’ll explain the way vaccines work without getting too science-y: They’re kind of like a tiny, perfectly engineered practice run for the immune system. Vaccines carefully and minimally introduce the disease into the body, yet do not expose the body to the disease’s symptoms. Think of this as practice for the tiny soldiers living in your immune system. These little soldiers are immune cells whose lives main purpose is to protect you and eliminate illnesses to keep you healthy. A vaccine helps to show them how to defeat the disease so they’re then able to face the real one with force and successfully protect their human, aka you.

Great! Sounds easy enough. Let’s do it! Let’s train up everyone’s defenses and eliminate herpes from all future generations!

Yeah, not so fast. Sadly, the problem with developing a herpes vaccine is that researchers can’t target the vaccine to the immune system. Remember how herpes is ninja-like and moves around the immune system? Well, it occasionally will also hide within your nerve cells, making herpes stealthy and almost invisible. How are your mini soldiers going to defeat the virus if it’s impossible to see them and not even within arms reach?

So, yeah, the vaccine option is looking bleak.

What about gene editing?

Scientists have also been looking into something called, “gene editing.” Gene editing, or genome editing, is a way of making specific changes to the DNA of a cell or organism. Unfortunately, there are many drawbacks to using this method. Some edits work for a bit but don’t last long. Other techniques supply a gene as spare parts and it also works for a little while also but isn’t permanent. It’s currently impossible to control exactly where in the DNA the gene is inserted. The negatives do outweigh the positives, especially due to the fact it can result in cancer.

Keith Jerome, a virologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has done a study to show that gene-editing can reach the latent virus in a nerve cell, with the goal to damage some of the virus’ DNA. It’s hard to get the correct gene changed, but Jerome (and us) believe that as technologies advance, a perfected version of gene editing will allow us to rid the earth of latent virus’ like herpes and cancer. We. Can’t. Wait.

Since we’ve basically told you that there is no cure nor vaccine out there, we should talk briefly about those who say otherwise. This is fake news. This may be the first time you’re hearing this but probably not. You’ve likely seen false claims (usually somewhere in comment threads) saying that Dr. So-and-so cured their HIV and herpes and whatever other incurable disease is out there. These are not reliable sources. They’re not even real people. Do not trust anything or anyone about a “cure” or a “fix” unless you see the CDC confirm this new cure or vaccine, got it?

How can you manage herpes right now?

As the world struggles to find a cure for this virus, we’re left searching for other resources. Right now, you can be prescribed medication or an over-the-counter antiviral medication to reduce the severity and duration of your outbreaks.

When you are prescribed antiviral medication, there are a few options of treatment available depending on the intensity of the symptoms.

The prescriptions used for herpes infections are all antiviral and they suppress the growth of the virus. But, let it be clear, antivirals do not cure herpes.

If diagnosed with herpes, your doctor will likely ask how often you get outbreaks and how bad the sores are. This helps you get prescribed a treatment according to your situation.

Here are three different options you may be offered:

1. Initial treatment: If you have sores present when you’re diagnosed with herpes, you will usually be given a brief course of seven to ten days of antiviral therapy to make them go away or stop them from worsening.
2. Intermittent treatment: You may be prescribed an antiviral drug that you can take as soon as you notice sores or when you feel them coming. The sores themselves will always disappear on their own, but taking antivirals can lessen the symptoms and help speed up the healing process. Again, this doesn’t mean herpes has been healed, just the sores.
3. Suppressive treatment: Those with frequent breakouts may need to take an antiviral drug on a daily and ongoing basis. This process is called suppressive therapy. A benefit of using these medications is that when you aren’t experiencing sores or other symptoms, the therapies have been shown to reduce the risk of transmitting it to a partner. Remember, herpes is extremely contagious so suppressive therapy is a good way to keep the virus to yourself.

If you’re like us and you hate going to the doctor or just generally hate leaving the house, there are some things you can stock your medicine cabinet with when you’re feeling an onset or are already being personally victimized by herpes.

Non-doctor prescribed tips include the following:

• Apply a cold compress. This will soothe the burning sensation from the cold sores and they won’t hurt as much.
• Avoid scratching any of the sores or blisters. If you do, you risk spreading the infection to other parts of your skin and further irritates the sores.
• Keep the areas experiencing outbreaks clean. The sores and genital herpes infections can become infected with bacteria from your hands, uring, or feces.
• Medicated pain creams or lotions can ease the discomfort associated with the sores. There are a few over-the-counter options available. Before you use these, make sure to confirm with a doctor or pharmacist that the product you select is safe to use on herpes lesions. Also, please wash your hands before and after applying any product. This will reduce the risk of further contaminating the wound or spreading it to other places on your skin.
• Oral pain relievers containing acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen can help relieve herpes-related pain for hours.

Alas, is there hope for a cure or vaccine in the future?

While herpes sucks, those infected can be comforted that they are very much not alone. The biggest bright side: Drum roll, please… it’s really not that big of a deal! Believe it or not, do you what you want, but the CDC says so too. Soooo many people have it and the emotional trauma from being diagnosed is usually the worst part. The physical symptoms usually aren’t that big of a deal. So live your best life, take your antivirals, and keep doing you. Make sure you let those around you know that herpes isn’t the end of the world. Chances are, you already know one or two regular ol’ people who just like you have herpes.

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