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Can You Donate Blood If You Have Herpes?
Short answer: yes, in most cases, you can.
But like many things with herpes, the details matter.
Let’s clear up the confusion — because this is one of those topics where myths tend to run wild.
The Big Picture: Herpes and Blood Donation
Herpes simplex virus is not transmitted through blood.
It spreads through skin-to-skin contact and mucous membranes — not through transfusions.
Because of that, having herpes does not automatically disqualify you from donating blood.
Most blood donation …
If I Wear Boxers and Condoms, Is It Possible To Avoid Herpes Transmission
So many times we get a question: How do I protect my partner from herpes? Or, even more specific: How can I make sure I don't transmit?
And we understand people would like to hear the 100%. Do these things in order, and you are forever safe. But in reality, relationships are not machines. We are not machines. We don't (oftentimes) plan our intimacy. Intimacy is often spontaneous, and not planned in details. It happens between partners.
Herpes is transmitted with skin to skin contact. If you co…
Herpes Transmission Without an Outbreak
Can herpes really spread when there are no sores? Yes — and here’s what that actually means for real life.
One of the most confusing (and stressful) things about herpes isn’t the outbreaks themselves — it’s the idea that the virus can spread even when nothing is visible. People often ask: If there are no sores, no tingling, no symptoms at all… how can herpes still be contagious?
Let’s slow this down, explain what’s really happening in the body, and put the risk into proper perspective — withou…
Fever Blisters, Cold Sores, Oral Herpes: Why We Keep Renaming the Same Thing
If you’ve ever had a cold sore, you’ve probably noticed how many names we give it.
“It’s just a fever blister.”
“Oh, that’s a cold sore — not herpes.”
“I only get them when I’m stressed or sick.”
And yet… all of these names usually point to the same thing: oral herpes, most commonly caused by HSV-1.
So why do we keep renaming it? And why does it still matter to talk about it openly — even if it feels “minor” or “normal”?
Why We Use Different Names for Oral Herpes
Historically, cold s…
When to Get Tested If You Think You Were Exposed to Herpes
If you’re worried you might have been exposed to herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2), it’s totally normal to feel anxious. The good news? Herpes has a pretty predictable timeline when it comes to testing, symptoms, and accuracy — you just need to know what to look for and when.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
Step 1: Were There Symptoms? That Determines Everything.
Testing works very differently depending on whether you actually have symptoms.
If you have symptoms (like a sore or blister):
➡️ Get…
STD Stigma Is Trauma: When to Seek Professional Help
Getting diagnosed with an STD isn’t just a medical moment — for many people, it’s an emotional shockwave.
Shame, fear, rejection, panic, intrusive thoughts… the feelings can hit harder than the virus itself.
And here’s the thing most people don’t realize:
STD stigma is a form of trauma.
Not because the diagnosis is dangerous, but because of what society has taught us to believe about it.
If you’ve been struggling emotionally since your diagnosis, nothing is “wrong with you.”
You’re reactin…
How Herpes Brought Me From Lost to Found
Before I had been diagnosed with herpes, I didn’t realize how lost I was in my own life.
Everything I was doing was based on how the world told me to live, was focused on the glamorization of sin (although I didn’t use that language at the time), and the complete disintegration of all aspects of myself.
It was hearing things around me like:
“You need to explore your body to know what you like.”
“It’s what people do.”
“That’s normal.” (For things that should not be normal.)
But it was also …
Can I Join the Army If I Have Herpes?
If you’ve been worrying that a herpes diagnosis automatically disqualifies you from military service, take a breath — that’s not the case. Herpes (whether HSV-1 or HSV-2) is incredibly common, medically manageable, and NOT considered a barrier to joining the U.S. military or most other national armed forces.
Herpes Is Not a Disqualifying Condition
The military’s medical standards focus on conditions that:
- Affect physical performance
- Interfere with operational readiness
- Could cause se…
How to Talk to Children About Herpes (By Age & Stage)
Talking to kids about herpes doesn’t have to feel scary, awkward, or “too much.”
With the right language, you can normalize the virus, reduce shame before it even starts, and actually help your kids grow up with healthier attitudes about bodies, boundaries, and safety.
The conversation looks different depending on their age — toddlers, kids, pre-teens, and teens each need their own style and level of information.
Let’s break it down.
For Toddlers & Young Kids (0–6): Focus on Oral Herpes & …
What Can History Teach Us About Herpes Stigma
I was listening to a podcast recently about a historical figure who had leprosy. As the host described how people viewed leprosy at the time—fear, avoidance, moral judgment, shame and divine punishment—my first thought was:
“They’re talking about leprosy the way many people still talk about herpes today.”
It was a strange moment of realization:
Everything they described—how people isolated leprosy patients, saw them as “unclean,” believed they were morally at fault—sounded painfully familiar.…