Blog
Afraid to Kiss My Loved Ones on the Cheek (Because I Get Cold Sores)
If you live with oral herpes (HSV-1), chances are you’ve hesitated at some point to kiss a loved one—especially during or after a cold sore. The fear of accidentally transmitting the virus can feel overwhelming and isolating, even in the most loving relationships. We would get questions from people who are afraid to kiss their nieces and nephews, children who are afraid to kiss their parents, and vice versa. There are cultures where kissing is part of every day's culture. People who kiss their b…
Swimming with Herpes: Is It Safe to Hit the Pool, Sea, or River?
Summer’s calling—sunshine, swimsuits, and that irresistible urge to jump into the water. But if you live with herpes, whether it’s HSV-1 or HSV-2, you might pause before diving in and wonder: Is it safe for me to swim in public pools, the ocean, or freshwater lakes if I have herpes?
Let’s clear up the confusion. Spoiler: yes, swimming is safe—but like anything, there are a few things worth knowing.
🌊 How Is Herpes Actually Transmitted?
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is spread through direct ski…
How Stress Worsens Herpes Outbreaks (And What Helps)
Why Your Mental Health Directly Impacts Your Immune System
If you've noticed herpes outbreaks popping up during stressful times, you're not imagining things—science proves stress and anxiety directly trigger flare-ups. Research shows that chronic stress weakens immune function, making it easier for the herpes virus to reactivate. But here's the good news: managing your mental health can be just as important as taking care of your diet, stress levels, sleep and medication or supplements you're t…
What Is Herpes to Doctors?
The Medical Truth Behind the Stigma
How Healthcare Professionals Really View Herpes
If you’ve ever left a herpes diagnosis feeling ashamed or scared, here’s a reality check: To doctors, herpes is just a virus—not a moral judgment.
While society treats herpes like a scandalous secret, medical professionals see it for what it is: a common, manageable skin condition. So why does the public perception differ so much from the clinical one? Let’s break it down.
1. Herpes Is Medically Mundane
"H…
What You Can & Can’t Do with Herpes
Living With Herpes Doesn’t Mean Living in a Bubble
One of the biggest fears after a herpes diagnosis is the sudden belief that your life is now full of restrictions.
Can I kiss my kids?
Can I swim in a pool?
Do I need separate dishes?
The good news? Herpes doesn’t stop you from living a normal life. But there are a few things to be mindful of—especially during outbreaks. Let’s separate fact from fiction.
✅ Things You CAN Do With Herpes
1. Swim in Pools, Hot Tubs & the Ocean
Herpes is n…
We're Promoting Sexual Freedom, but Shaming STDs Like Herpes
We Claim to Be Sex-Positive—So Why the Double Standard?
We live in an era that celebrates sexual liberation—open relationships, casual dating, and body positivity are mainstream. Yet, despite all this progress, herpes stigma remains one of the last socially acceptable forms of shame.
Think about it:
- We encourage people to explore their sexuality without judgment.
- We preach acceptance for all kinds of relationships.
- We normalize conversations about pleasure, kinks, and sexual health.
Bu…
How I Spent My 4th of July with a Herpes Diagnosis - Oh Sh*T Anniversary Pt. 7
Everything feels so out of reach when you are first diagnosed. Everything comes crumbling down and you feel like you're never going to be able to come up for air. It's suffocating and terrifying at the same time. Would love to tell you after I was diagnosed I picked up and was able to straighten my life out right away. That wasn't the case and I did not have a rebound in one day or even the week later.
Back when I was diagnosed I was really struggling. So now it's the 4th of July. I had pla…
Before You Worry About Their Reaction, Ask: Do I Even Want This Person in My Life?
Why We Forget to Evaluate Our Own Standards When Disclosing Herpes
Disclosing your herpes status can feel like standing on a cliff’s edge, waiting to see if your partner will catch you or let you fall. The fear of rejection is real—so real that we often forget to ask ourselves one crucial question:
"Do I actually want this person in my life?"
We get so caught up in their potential judgment that we skip over our own standards. But here’s the truth: A relationship is a two-way street. If you’re…
The Day I Got Diagnosed with Genital Herpes Was the Worst Day of My Life: Oh Sh*T Anniversary pt.5
It's Friday July 1st and this was the day that changed my everything. This was the day 14 years ago that I got diagnosed with genital herpes. I still have the dress that I was wearing when I was diagnosed with herpes so I thought I'd be fun to try it on.
If you can remember I had gone for my annual physical on Tuesday, so I was patiently awaiting my results. I was thinking that if I don't get a phone call by 3:00 then I'll have to call the doctors because otherwise it's a holiday weekend w…
What Life with Herpes Looks like for 14 Years - Oh Sh*T Anniversary Pt.5
In case you're just tuning in and haven't been following along this weeks series, let me bring you up to date. This is my "oh shit anniversary", aka the week I got diagnosed with genital herpes. So I'm bringing you along for the emotional ride and sharing what my diagnosis was like.
At this point in the week I still had not received my diagnosis and there was still so much up in the air. I remember feeling so unsettled and was in limbo wondering if I had herpes and if it was going to change…