Cold sore is an annoying and unsightly skin disease. Also known as fever blisters brought by herpes simplex virus. It will start as a red spot and will start to accumulate moisture making it itchy and irritating. Cold sore is a contagious skin disease that usually appears in the mouth, lips and genitals. It is important to get rid of cold sores permanently to avoid the annoyance and embarrassment brought by this skin disease.

Of course it is much better to avoid getting cold sore in the first place than to get rid of cold sores. Cold sore can spread through direct skin contact like kissing, touching or oral sex. Things used by a person with herpes simplex virus like towels, drinking glass; toothbrush etc. can also help spread the virus. Avoid skin contact or using personal stuffs of people you suspected with cold sores.

In most cases, cold sore appears in the most inappropriate occasions like weddings, big dates etc. because you are more vulnerable to the virus when stressed. You should start to find remedies to get rid of cold sores, to stop the annoyance and embarrassment brought by this skin disease.

It is important that cold sore cure is available at the onset of this skin disease to prevent it from spreading and to get rid of cold sores as soon as possible. Cold sore can last for weeks if not treated at once. Here are some tips to get rid of cold sores.

Keep your cold sore dry. Regularly wash the area around the cold sore and pat it dry. Cold sore needs moisture and dirt to keep swelling. If they are kept clean and dry, healing will speed up. Shield cold sores with petroleum jelly using cotton swab to avoid swelling.

Replace your toothbrush with a new one once detected you have a cold sore. Toothbrushes incubate cold sore causing viruses and it will keep coming back if you use the same toothbrush. You also need to replace your toothpaste tubes since toothbrush bristles get in contact with the toothpaste tubes each time you use your toothpaste. Buy smaller toothpaste and avoid rubbing your toothbrush bristles against the opening of the toothpaste tube.

Zinc sulfate, available in your local pharmacy can also help get rid of cold sores. You can ask the nearest pharmacy for a zinc sulfate tube once you spot a cold sore starting to burst out.

Amino acid lysine can also help you get rid of cold sores. You can get if from drinking supplements or by eating potatoes and dairy products. But amino acid lysine is not recommended for nursing or pregnant women as this can interfere with the infant’s development.

Lemon balm, tea tree oil, Echinacea and tea bag applied directly to the affected area can also help get rid of cold sores due to its antiviral properties.

Avoid stress to get rid of cold sores. Stress triggers the recurrence of cold sores and it also weakens your immune system, making you more vulnerable to viral infections. Get rid of cold sores by eating a healthy balanced diet, exercise and getting enough sleep.

These are just few methods you can use to get rid of cold sores. For more tips and ways to prevent cold sores from annoying you in the future, consult with your doctor.

By Gerry Restrivera

Yogurt and cold sore have a very interesting relationship. Yogurt is a double edged sword which can either help or worsen the condition of someone with the disease.

Cold sore is one of the forms of the herpes virus. It can stay dormant in a person’s body until a stimulus triggers it which results to the manifestations of the different symptoms of the disease. However, there are also ways on how to suppress these symptoms. In the case of yogurt and cold sore, the former can both trigger the herpes virus but it can also help to suppress it.

There are no known medications to completely eradicate cold sore or the herpes virus. The best that treatments and medications can do is to suppress the symptoms of the disease as well as prevent an outbreak from happening. One of the ways included in the treatment is through diet. In the diet plan for someone who has cold sore, yogurt is included since the bacteria from which it was made, the acidophilus bacteria, has been known to be a good fighter of cold sore. The problem is, commercialized yogurt has been pasteurized meaning the acidophilus bacteria have been neutralized thus becoming ineffective. Before buying yogurt, one should make sure that it still contains active acidophilus bacteria.

Looking at the other side of the story of yogurt and cold sore, some commercial yogurt contain gelatin. Unfortunately, gelatin can cause a cold sore outbreak which should be totally avoided. When buying yogurt, always check the label to see whether gelatin is one of its ingredients.

By Charlene Nuble

Doctors agree that the best way to avoid the spread of herpes is to be educated on how it is transmitted. Taking the time to learn about herpes and how it is passed from one person to another is the best way to protect yourself and your partner.

When thinking about how is herpes spread, remember that there are two main types of the disease. Type 1, known as HSV-1, is most commonly the cause of the oral version, often called fever blisters or cold sores. Type 2, known as HSV-2 is the main cause of genital herpes. Both oral and genital are spread in similar ways and both are very contagious.

It is important to keep in mind that the spread of herpes happens very easily. Because the virus is transmitted through physical contact, any skin to skin contact can potentially be an opportunity to pass on the virus.

Herpes stays in the body for life, even though the symptoms may come and go. When the symptoms are present, it is called a “herpes outbreak”. Many people make the mistake of assuming they cannot pass the virus on to their partner if they are not experiencing an outbreak. However, this is not the case. The virus is still there even if the person who has it is not exhibiting any symptoms. You are certainly most susceptible to catching the virus if the infected person has active symptoms, but even so, you should always be concerned about the spread of herpes. Always take precautions to protect yourself from getting the virus, or if you already have it then to keep your partner from becoming infected.

So, how is herpes spread? In addition to skin contact, it is passed on through oral sex or through vaginal or anal sex. There is some risk of spreading herpes through kissing, but this is less likely if neither partner has an open sore or lesion.

Moist areas of the body, such as the mouth, throat, eyes and genitals, are most easily infected. If your skin is cut, chaffed or burned then these areas are at higher risk of contracting the virus. Keep in mind also that the spread of herpes is not limited to one part of the body. It can be transmitted to other parts of the body, such as from your genitals to your fingers and then from your fingers to other parts of your body.

While the spread of herpes is common with skin on skin contact, it very unlikely that you would catch herpes from inanimate objects such as swimming pools, bathtubs, damp towels or toilet seats. If you focus on protecting yourself when you are in physical contact with others, then you have a very good chance of avoiding the herpes virus.

By Sheldon Miller

Koi Herpes Virus short for KHV is a deadly virus , which can cause 80-100 percent mortality in common carp. The first outbreak of Koi Herpes Virus was reported in 1998 and confirmed in 1999 in Israel. Since then, other cases have been confirmed in the United States, Europe and Asia as well.

The signs of KHV often non-specific. You need to monitor your Koi Fish, if your Koi remains near the surface, swims lethargically, exhibits respiratory distress, has gill lesions, has gill mottling with red and white patches, bleeding gills, has sunken eyes, pale patches or blisters on the skin and uncoordinated swimming. The KHV seems to spread in the same ways as most herpes viruses: direct contact with infected fish, with fluids from infected fish, and/or with water or mud from infected systems. Once a fish has been exposed to the virus, it will always be a carrier. There is no known cure for Koi Herpes Virus. Mortality related to Koi Herpes Virus typically occurs between 18°C and 27°C. Almost no mortalities occur below 18°C, and there has been no reported occurrence of the disease above 30°C.

How do you know your Koi Fish has KHV? You need the assistance of a fish health specialist and a fish disease diagnostic laboratory. There are direct and indirect methods.

Direct methods include: virus isolation and identification (it means growing the virus or not) and PCR techniques (it means testing for the presence of KHV genes).

Indirect tests for KHV include ELISA testing, which looks for antibodies produced by the fish against the herpes virus These testing method can give proof that a fish was infected with KHV. This indirect test cannot determine if the fish is still infected with virus, so it is not recommended as a primary diagnostic tool.

As I mentioned there is no known treatment for KHV and the mortality is very high. If your Koi fish have been diagnosed with Koi Herpes Virus unfortunately, you have not got other choice than depopulation (it means eliminating the entire population). This approach should be followed by disinfection of all materials and systems that have contacted the infected fish.

By Nikoletta Bocz

Additional Reading: Stop Herpes Now & From Coming Back for Good by Dr David Hogg

For most people that suffer through frequent herpes outbreaks, the disease is, at most, inconvenient. It hinders your sexual freedom and if an outbreak occurs in a place that isn’t covered by daily clothing, it can be embarrassing trying to come up with reasons why you have a lesion or an open sore on your face, neck or hands. But for those that have herpes and are also pregnant, the health of their baby can be seriously compromised. If you are pregnant and you think you have herpes simplex two, you should tell your doctor immediately. Here are a few guidelines in dealing with a pregnancy vs genital herpes.

- Neonatal herpes can be a killer to your baby. Herpes is spread from mother to child, as the child is being born and traveling down the birth canal. If the mother is undergoing an outbreak during delivery, the chances of spreading it to your baby are much higher. There are many common anti-viral medications that can be prescribed during pregnancy that can keep the number of outbreaks down significantly, but since there is no cure, it is impossible to completely squash them.

- Studies have shown that about 50 percent of newborn babies that are treated with anti-viral medication once they contract herpes from the mother during birth end up with no damage at all. But for the rest, things like mental retardation, severe neurological disorders and even death can occur. If you are pregnant and uninfected and you know that your partner is, you need to be especially careful during this time since you can pass the virus on to the mother and the unborn baby.

- If you are a pregnant mother and you have had herpes for a long period of time, you might actually be better off. As part of the bodies natural defense against disease, antibodies, are created en masse by the body to fight infections. Your body can’t cure itself against herpes, but the antibodies that your body creates can cross to your unborn baby via the placenta and help strengthen your baby against infection during the time of birth. The longer you have had it, the better off you and your baby will be. The most at risk pregnancies are ones where the disease is contracted only a few months before birth.

- If your baby is born prematurely, he or she could be at a higher risk of contracting herpes during the birth since the baby hasn’t had enough time to absorb the antibodies for herpes from the mother. Combine that with the mother having an outbreak during the birth and it makes matters even worse.

- A small but significant number of babies actually contract herpes after they are born when someone who has it kisses them. Approximately eight percent of babies contract herpes this way.

Pregnancy vs Genital herpes is a very serious situation that you need to alert your doctor of right away. If you are pregnant, you need to be doubly careful that you do not contract herpes virus during your final months of pregnancy, or the worst may happen.

By Jennifer Adams

Cold sores and pregnancy, although rare, can be serious concern for new mothers who suffer from the herpes simplex virus. It is understandable to be concerned, so let’s take a deeper look into this health issue.

The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores is not a genetic condition, meaning that you can’t automatically pass it on to your unborn child. The cold sore virus is only spread by coming in direct contact with someone who is infected.

Cold sores and pregnancy can be a health concern during the delivery of your baby. If you are about to give birth and have an active cold sore or herpes outbreak around the birth canal, your doctor will do a c-section delivery instead to protect your baby from coming in contact with the virus. It’s important to note that if you have herpes, but are not currently having an outbreak, a normal delivery should be fine.

Studies have shown that women who have had the herpes simplex virus long before becoming pregnant are at a very low risk of infecting the baby.

The one area that is of greatest concern is if you contract the herpes virus for the first time during your pregnancy. There will be a very high likelyhood of passing it on to your baby. Neonatal herpes as it is termed, can be fatal to your baby. You must get in contact with your doctor immediately if this occurs. Since Neonatal herpes is not a reportable disease in many different states, it is impossible to know exactly how many cases there are each year. Estimates put the number at 1,000-3,000, so cold sores and pregnancy are a concern to be mindful of, especially if you have had them in the past.

What is more amazing, and quite sad, is the fact that 5%-8% of all newborn babies who contract neonatal herpes get the virus by being kissed from an adult who has an active cold sore. While this is hard to believe, it points out the fact that you have to be careful in who is around your new baby.

The best tip in regards to having cold sores and wanting to get pregnant is to talk with your health care provider beforehand. Regardless of whether you currently have an active herpes outbreak, or if it has been years ago, talk with the medical experts and get all your questions answered in regards to cold sores and pregnancy.

By Terry Edwards

Cold sores are characterized by facial lesions on the lips or around the mouth. Their medical name is Herpes labialis and they were once considered to be a ‘kissing disease’. The news they are suffering from herpes is often very scary to a person, but they need to be aware that there are two types of herpes. Type One is typically seen above the waistline, and type two below the waistline. Therefore the cold sores around the mouth are not a good indicator of the presence of genital herpes.

Herpes Labialis is unlike a regular infection in that the appearance of facial lesions is not a result of recent exposure to Herpes germs, but rather a reactivation of some of the herpes virus that has been lying dormant in the body. These dormant virus particles may have been lying around the body inactive for some time so clearly kissing, or any other contact activity, cannot be the cause of the facial lesions that we know as cold sores.

When a person is initially exposed to the virus which causes cold sores it is known as ‘primary herpetic stomatitis’. The initial exposure can be as a result of direct contact, such as kissing. The symptoms are quite different from cold sores and include:

* Fever, headaches and irritability as well as pain when swallowing.
* Swollen gums
* Painful mouth
* Tiny blisters throughout the mouth, these will usually rupture by the third day forming ulcers.

Many people cannot remember any of these symptoms, and this is hardly surprising considering that most people who contract the virus do so before the age of seven. Even then nearly every case is ’subclinical’, meaning it is never serious enough to be referred to a doctor, so is allowed to run it’s course(usually an infection lasts 10-14 days) and then forgotten.

Roughly 80% of the population is thought to carry the primary herpetic stomatitis antibody. The body only produces the antibody in defense against the virus itself, and in all cases once the virus is present particles will remain. Of that 80% however, only a small number(about one third) will have the virus reactivate and get cold sores. Some of the triggers which can serve to reactivate the virus are:

* When the victim is emotionally upset or under stress.
* Physical stress, tiredness or fatigue.
* Recent illness such as a cold or flu.
* Damage to the lips or skin, including severe chapping, sun or wind burn.
* Changes in hormone levels such as those seen during menstruation or pregnancy
* A deficiency in the immune system

In other words an outbreak is more likely to occur whenever the bodies immune system is working sub-optimally or has been heavily taxed fighting off another problem.

Beverley A Brooke

Additional Reading: Stop Herpes Now & From Coming Back for Good by Dr David Hogg

PS: If kissing is a more interesting issue for you, there is this website that talks about Kissing 101.

Dosha theory which help in diagnosis of the diseases.

According to ayurveda three doshas or three energetic forces control the activities of the body. These doshas are

1. Vata

2. Pitta

3. Kapha

VATA: The Vata dosha is the most important of the three doshas. It has been said in ayurveda classic books that “pitta, Kapha and all other body tissues are considered lame without assistance of VATA.” Vata dominates the lower part of the body, which is below umbilicus. The movements of body fluid, metabolism, elimination of waste products, semen ejaculation, pushing the fetus out of body, relaying stimulus to brain and response to organs and tissues, heart beat, respiration, body movements etc are assisted by VATA.

Vata dominated regions are intestines, lumbar region, ears, bones and skin.

Vata gets vitiated due to following reasons.

1. Controlling natural urges like urination, defecation, hunger, thirst, etc.

2. Late nights.

3. Irregular food habits.

4. Talking in a high pitch.

5. Over physical and mental exertion.

6. Consumption of spicy, dry, bitter foods.

7. Exposure to severe dry and cold climate.

The opposites of above-mentioned reason normalize the vitiated vata.

PITTA: The pitta dosha assists the body fire or Agni, which plays a major role in body’s metabolic activities. The locations where pitta dominates are digestive system, skin, eyes, brain, and blood. Pitta maintains body temperature. The secretions like digestive juices pigments like melanin (bhrajaka pitta), hemoglobin (ranjaka pitta) are all types of pitta.

Pitta is dominant in regions of Umbilicus, stomach, sweat, lymph, blood, eyes and skin.

Vata gets vitiated due to following reasons.

1. Excess consumption of spicy, sour, salty foods.

2. Consuming alcohol in excess.

3. Over exposure to hot sunny climate.

4. Short temperedness.

5. Using dried vegetables.

6. Indigestion of food.

The opposites of above-mentioned reason normalize the vitiated pitta.

KAPHA: Kapha provides bulk to body, lubrications, moistness, fertility, stability, strength, and memory. Helps in binding process wherever necessary. This is heaviest of all doshas.

Kapha dominated regions are chest, neck, head, stomach, body fat, nose and tongue

Kapha gets vitiated due to following reasons.

1. Sleeping in daytime.

2. Consuming sweets, chilled food, in excess.

3. Consuming fish, sesame, sugarcane, milk and milk products.

The opposites of above-mentioned reason normalize the vitiated kapha.

When these doshas are in balanced condition the body remains healthy. If these doshas get imbalanced the body succumbs to diseases. Doshas get imbalanced frequently due to change in climate, seasons, lifestyles, diet etc. The treatment is to bring back the doshas to normalcy and expel the toxin or ama produced during the imbalanced condition.

Causes of Genital Herpes

Herpes is caused by a virus the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which belongs to the same family of viruses that cause chickenpox. There are two types of herpes simplex viruses

1. Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and mostly causes oral herpes

2. Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2). And mostly causes genital herpes

However, both type-1 and type-2 can occur in the genitals, oral area or both.

Due to unhealthy life styles and diet the delicate balance between doshas get disturbed. This disturbs the body fire or Agni.

(Agni is the body fire, which is responsible for transformation of one substance to another. It breaks down the food substances, eliminates toxins and wastes, maintains body temperature, and resists the invasion of microbes by maintaining strong body immunity.

The body fire, which is assisted by balanced doshas, digests the food completely to form Pakwa Anna rasa (the liquid form of food which is completely digested by digestive enzymes), which is ready to get absorbed by body tissues. According to ayurveda Pakwa Anna Rasa nourishes the body and its components to keep the body devoid of diseases. But when body fire is impaired there will be an incomplete digestion of food forming Apakwa Rasa (indigested food). The indigested food fails to nourish the body components leading to lowered body resistance.)

The disturbed Agni fails to digest the food and toxins get accumulated in body due to improper metabolism. Accumulation of toxins reduces the body immunity and paves the way for invasion by microbes.

When a person who has low immunity comes in contact with HSV virus, he/she gets the genital or oral herpes.

Unhealthy lifestyle

1. Over eating

2. Sleeping in afternoons.

3. Over physical exertion.

4. Over mental exertion

5. Consuming food frequently even when not hungry.

6. Constant exposure to hot sunny climates

Unhealthy diet

Excessive consumption of

1. Salty, sour, hot, spicy food.

2. Sour curds

3. Alcohol.

4. Cheese

5. Charred and overcooked food.

6. Sesame, Bengal gram, horse gram, sesame oil, rice flour, garlic, fish.

Opposite foods

1. Curds, salt, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, sour fruits, meat, prawn, pork, should not be consumed with milk. The above-mentioned foods should not be consumed by mixing one item with another.

2. Sprouts, honey and milk should not be consumed with meat and fish.

3. Fish & milk: fish &sugarcane juice; jaggery & pork; honey & pork; milk & mango; banana & milk; are opposite foods.

The Transmission Of genital Herpes

A person can get genital herpes in following conditions

1. If he is sexual active and when he performs sex (oral or genital) with infected partners.

2. A person who has oral herpes transmits herpes to genital organs of a partner during oral sex and a person who has genital herpes transmits this to his partner during coitus when they have a genital contact.

3. The disease gets transmitted when mucous membrane comes in contact with infected area.

The disease gets transmitted mostly during active phase. But it may spread even during asymptomatic (when person is free of symptoms for a particular duration) phase. The virus needs a fluid media for its transportation. The body fluids like saliva, semen, vaginal tract secretions etc. Mucous membranes in mouth, vagina, urethra or open wounds facilitate the virus invasion due to their moistness.

In Genital herpes there is an imbalance of all three doshas (VATA, PITTA, KAPHA), which in turn vitiate lasika (lymph), blood (rakta), muscle (mamsa) and skin (twacha).

The imbalanced doshas vitiate skin and the immunity of skin cells is lowered. The virus attacks these weak cells and starts exhibiting symptoms on affected area.

Local symptoms

1. Pricking sensation

2. Edema

3. Pain

4. Feeling of constriction

5. A sensation of ant creeping

6. Many small eruptions gathering in a small area.

7. These eruptions or blisters burst soon with exudates.

8. These blisters will have different colors according to involvement of doshas. (Blackish red or blue in vata, red, yellow, copper colored in pitta, shades of white in kapha).

The weakened body immune system tries to resist the virus invasion but fails to achieve the goal. In this futile attempt the following systemic symptoms are exhibited.

Systemic symptoms

1. Fever

2. Weakness

3. Indigestion

4. Impaired bowels

5. Increased frequency of urination.

6. Body pain.

7. Increased thirst.

Imbalanced vata causes the symptoms like pain, swelling and body ache

The imbalanced pitta and vitiated blood and skin cause

1. Blisters,

2. Change the color of skin,

3. Cause burning sensation, and fever.

The imbalanced kapha and vitiated lymph cause itching, tingling sensation.

After the first attack the virus moves from skin through the nerve paths to base of the nerve and becomes inactive. Now the herpes infected person will be devoid of all symptoms. But the imbalance of doshas still persists.

Reactivation of Virus to cause outbreaks

At unpredictable times, the virus becomes active. It multiplies and resurfaces on skin by traveling through the nerve path and exhibits the symptoms locally. The severity of symptoms of out break depends on the strength of body immunity.

The pelvis or shroni, nerves and skin are dominated by vata. When vata gets vitiated due to precipitating factors, it reactivates the virus dormant in base of nerve end and the virus travel through nerve paths to reach the skin surface.

Precipitating Factors

As we know the outbreaks have few precipitating factors like

1. Excessive exposure to sun.

2. Illness,

3. Poor diet,

4. Emotional stress

5. Physical stress,

6. Friction,

7. Steroids

8. Menstruation.

9. Emotional stress.

10. Genital trauma and intercourse.

11. Repeated infections such as a cold or pneumonia.

These factors increase vata and increased vata activates the virus, which is dormant.

Low Immunity The systemically imbalanced doshas interfere with the body metabolism by vitiating the body fire (agni). This leads to indigestion and malassimilation of nutrients, which in turn causes poor immunity. Due to decreased immunity the body fails to offer resistance to outbreaks.

Ayurveda Tips to avoid outbreaks

Avoid

1. Spicy, sour, fried and junk food, which aggravates vata.

2. Precipitating factors.

3. Sleeping in afternoon.

4. Meat products over fried or deep fried in oil or fat.

5. Charred and overcooked food.

6. Consuming opposite food like fish and milk etc

7. Physical exertion after a meal

8. Taking bath immediately after exercise or heavy outdoor work.

Include honey, pomegranate, and fruits of Emblica officinalis, legumes, dates and raisins in your diet.

Practice Yoga and Meditation to control emotional disturbances

Ayurveda References

1. Sushruta Samhita

2. Charaka Samhita

3. Madhava nidana

4. Ashtanga Sangraha

5. Yoga Ratnakara

By Dr. Savitha Suri Dr. Savitha Suri has been an Ayurvedic Practitioner since 1989. After getting a graduation degree in ayurveda (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in 1988 from University of Mysore, India, she started practising ayurveda. Her articles about ayurveda have been published in news papers and websites. She is a regular health columnist to a regional news paper.

This is a common scenario, “I found out I had genital herpes in January. My boyfriend got a blood test and he tested negative. Recently, we broke up . I’m sure I’m not ready to start dating again yet, but when I am I’m not sure how to go about it. I know I have to tell my partners and I will continue to be careful. Can I date those who don’t have herpes? Will they be willing to date me?”

Many people with herpes have similar experience at the beginning. The following information shows you how you can unlock your own natural confidence and strength so you feel really comfortable giving ‘The Talk’. Now that you know you have genital herpes, you’re out of the dating game, right? Absolutely not. There’s no reason to stop looking for love and fun.

Genital herpes doesn’t detract from your many desirable qualities, which have drawn people to you in the past and will continue to make you a great catch.

Broaching the Topic of Genital Herpes

The first date after your diagnosis may seem a little strange, however. If you hope to be sexually intimate with your date at some point, you may feel like you’re keeping a nasty secret. If you are one to be candid with people, you’ll want to blurt it out. Don’t. There are some things you should reveal about yourself right away - for example, that you’re married, or that you’re just in town for the week - but some things are better left for the appropriate moment.

It’s up to you to decide the right time to tell your date that you have genital herpes. Follow two rules: First, don’t wait until after having sex. Second, don’t wait until you’re just about to have sex — in which case the attraction may be too strong for either of you to think rationally and act responsibly.

If in the past you tended to start a new relationship with sex, you now might want to change your approach. It might be better to break the news about your herpes to someone who has already grown attached to you. Kissing, cuddling, and fondling are safe, so you don’t have to tell before you do that. But use your best judgment as to how physically intimate you want to get before telling. One thing could lead to another, and you might find yourself in an awkward situation.

Dealing With Rejection Anyone who dates should be prepared for rejection. The person you’re seeing may beat a hasty retreat when he or she finds out about your genital herpes. If you get the “I just want to be friends” talk after telling your sweetheart you have herpes, consider this: He or she may have already been looking for a way out, and herpes was as good an excuse as any. What’s more, anyone who disdains you or humiliates you for having herpes was never worth your while.

Keep dating, and you will find someone who wants to be with you regardless of your herpes status. There are certainly some who wouldn’t mind keeping the intimacy level just short of doing things that could transmit the virus. And of those people, it’s likely that at least one will come around, and say, “Hey, I understand there’s a risk, but I’m crazy about you, so I’m willing to take it.”

Depending on your dating style, you might date people with herpes, if you want to avoid having to discuss it. Herpes doesn’t define you, but judgmental people will make judgmental decisions. At the herpes dating sites like the more popular and established ones like PositiveSingles, you do not worry about being rejected or discriminated, but often find understanding and comforting.

By David H Smith