People dating with herpes

However, revealing their herpes status is understandably a challenge for some people more than others.

In fact, Laureen HD, 31, has a You Tube channel dedicated to helping people cope with herpes and its stigma.

I introduced my viral condition with humor or in a passing comment, and my partners responded with empathy.

Now, I share openly with potential partners well before we have sex.

I apologized and cried when I revealed I was HSV and my partners didn’t respond with empathy — they responded with fear and said hateful things, which then pushed me further into self-loathing and shame.

With the help of herpes blogs, medical articles, and my therapist, I began to accept herpes as any other medical condition.