May 14, 2025 04:27pm

By Sabina Gaspirc

Under Herpes 101

3 min read

The Origins of Herpes Stigma

How Fear & Misinformation Created a Lasting Shame

From Ancient Sores to 80s Moral Panic

Herpes has been with humanity for thousands of years, but the intense shame surrounding it? That's a modern invention. What began as a simple medical observation transformed into one of the most stigmatized conditions in modern history.

Let's uncover how herpes went from being just another skin condition to a cultural "scandal" - and why that stigma is finally starting to crack.

Ancient Times to 1800s: Just Another Skin Condition

Historical records show herpes was:

Documented by Hippocrates in 400 BCE (who simply described the lesions)
Mentioned in Roman medical texts as "herpetic eruptions"
Considered a routine dermatological issue, not a moral failing

The shift began when:

✔️ Religious teachings started linking diseases to "sinful behavior"

✔️ Victorian-era doctors moralized about sexual health

✔️ STIs became associated with punishment rather than biology

The 20th Century: Three Stigma Superchargers

1. 1920s-1950s: The "Social Hygiene" Movement

After WWI, public health campaigns:

Blamed STIs on "loose morals" rather than germs
Grouped herpes with syphilis in public fear campaigns
Created the first wave of herpes-related shame

2. 1970s: The Sexual Revolution Backlash

As sexual norms changed:

Herpes became a scapegoat for cultural anxieties
Media framed it as the "price" of sexual freedom
The term "herpes" became slang for something undesirable

3. 1980s: The Perfect Stigma Storm

This decade cemented herpes shame through:

Media Hysteria

TIME Magazine's infamous 1982 cover: "Herpes: The New Scarlet Letter"
Newsweek calling it the "new leprosy"
Over 50 major magazine articles in 2 years spreading fear

Pop Culture Mockery

Johnny Carson jokes on The Tonight Show
Sitcom punchlines (Cheers, Golden Girls)
Stand-up comedy routines mocking people with herpes

Pharmaceutical Profiteering

When acyclovir (the first antiviral) launched:

Drug ads emphasized "lifelong infection" without context
Doctors were encouraged to diagnose aggressively
The narrative shifted from "manageable" to "catastrophic"

The AIDS Crisis Fallout

As HIV emerged:

All STIs became more stigmatized by association
Public health messages blurred distinctions between viruses
Herpes was wrongfully framed as an "HIV risk factor"

The 2000s: Stigma Starts to Crumble

Three game-changers began dismantling the shame:

Internet communities let people connect anonymously
Scientific literacy spread about how common HSV really is
Influencers & celebrities started speaking openly

Yet the legacy remains:

60% of people with herpes report stigma affects their mental health more than symptoms (Journal of Health Psychology, 2021)
Many doctors still deliver diagnoses insensitively

Rewriting the Narrative Today

We're finally seeing:

✅ Podcasts normalizing herpes conversations

✅ Dating influencers disclosing their status publicly

✅ New generations rejecting outdated shame

The most powerful stigma-busters?

Honest storytelling (like in our Secret Society community)
Fact-based education about transmission and management
Reframing herpes as a common skin condition, not a moral failing

Join the Movement

If you’re tired of stigma, you’re not alone. Thousands of people are reclaiming their stories in the Secret Society—a judgment-free community for thriving with herpes.

Because after centuries of needless shame? It’s time to write a new story.

Join the Secret Society