People with STDs are often characterized as villains – individuals that should be avoided, because they’re bad people or they will only intentionally infect someone else. What’s silly about that portrayal is everyone with an STD was once someone without an STD. Rarely, does the other side of the story get explained or does a […]
Herpes – Worth a Little Bit of Complication – STI Interviews
Some interviews are long-winded, others are short and sweet. It’s one of the things I treasure most about the STI Interviews: their variety. We’re all so very different in our style of writing and what kind of information we share, and something about a simple interview, like this one, resonates with me. I think, maybe […]
HSV2 – It Sucks, But We Can Get Through It – STI Interviews
As if an HSV2 diagnosis isn’t enough to send someone whirling, then those who’ve you’ve entrusted with that personal information decide they should tell others about your infection. That’s enough to make anyone depressed while feeling like a true villain – a horrible, undesirable person who people should ‘watch out’ for. The problem with those […]
Take a 5 Minute, Anonymous STD Testing Survey for BMF!
Boston Microfluidics (BMF) is looking for people to take a 5 minute, anonymous STD testing survey! To take the survey, follow this link! Recently, The STI Project and Boston Microfluidics – the makers of KnowNow at-home HSV2 tests – have begun collaborating. You may have seen some of our recent press in The Daily Beast, […]
Should I Tell Past Partners I Have a Sexually Transmitted Infection?
Reader Submitted Question: I am in my 20’s, and I contracted HSV1 when I was a teenager. I had sexual contact with one male and had safe sex with another male, and both did not know I carried the virus then. I have struggled for the last few years with HSV1 but have a supportive family & boyfriend. […]
What is my risk of contracting herpes? Herpes Transmission Risk II
Acquired Immune Response This is where herpes transmission risk gets a little more complicated. There are 9 types of the human herpes virus: HHV1 and HHV2 are the types known as herpes simplex viruses (HSV type 1 and HSV type 2); HHV3 is know as varicella-zoster, the type that causes chickenpox and shingles, or herpes […]
What is my risk of spreading herpes? Herpes Transmission Risk
One of the most common questions we receive is about herpes transmission and the risk of spreading the virus to a new partner. HSV1 & HSV2 is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact – not bodily fluids, blood, surfaces, towels, bedding, toilets, or otherwise, just skin-to-skin contact. From there, inoculation must also occur for the infection to […]
How many outbreaks will I get? Herpes Outbreaks
HSV affects everyone a little differently. Some people are bothered by frequent cold sores and/or genital herpes outbreaks, and others are not. How much of a physical impact the virus has on someone’s body is primarily the result of four factors: how well a person’s immune system is able to combat the infection, how long […]