It’s interviews such as this one that speak to the value of having access to resources and educational tools that support and encourage sexual health. Quite often, we’ve found that a person’s opinion about their diagnosis improves with time. For some, it takes longer than others [read: it took me years and years to overcome […]
HSV1 – You Can Lead a Fearless Life – STI Interviews
Having been imprisoned in my own shame and fear for years as well as being very brazen about my experiences now, I’ve seen both sides of the herpes closet… It wasn’t until I stepped out that I realized how severely I had been entrenched in my own stigma. It’s amazing how coming out about your past can shed an entirely […]
The STD Testing Guy – When I Grow Up
This guest post was written by one of our contributors, STD Testing Expert and Founder & President of Boston Microfluidics, Brandon T. Johnson. On February 24th of this year, Boston Microfluidics officially hired a new CEO, which means, for the first time in a long time, I’m NOT the CEO. I have mixed feelings, of […]
HSV1 – Things Feel Not Worth It – STI Interviews
Both an HSV1 and an HSV2 diagnosis can spur a multitude of traumatic emotions when located genitally. At The STI Project, we often hear from readers that HSV1 (traditionally thought to be only an oral infection) is the ‘good’ kind of herpes, and that HSV2 is the ‘bad’ kind. But, as evidenced by this interview, countless […]
HSV2 – Met Another Frog – STI Interviews
The immense stigma associated with having an STD, and in this case, HSV2, affects not only the person who’s diagnosed but is also commonly the reason why those who transmit their infection to others flee. The stigma associated with having a sexually transmitted infection and then the shame of transmitting it to someone else can […]
HSV – No One Treats Me Differently – STI Interviews
An incredible example of how support – caring, thoughtful, and educational support – can be the difference between an emotional tailspin upon a new diagnosis and a calm, worry-free reaction. It’s never easy to share one’s story, and each person must decide with whom to share it and how to do so (anonymously, with a […]
HSV1 – Hasn’t Changed Anything in His Eyes – STI Interviews
It’s so refreshing to read about partners and family members who remain open-minded when an STD diagnosis occurs and/or who do not treat their loved ones differently when they learn about their infection. More often than not, I find couples who have a healthy, established relationship are able to move past an STD diagnosis and […]
Herpes – My Biggest Fear is Judgment from Friends – STI Interviews
Interviews like this one remind me how important it is to continue advocating for comprehensive safer sex education. Unfortunately, it’s the norm rather than the exception that people get diagnosed and know very little about how they contracted an infection – testing, transmission, risk, you name it; most people know very little about STDs, in […]