Telling Your Partner About Your Herpes

Talking About Herpes

The herpes simplex virus, or HSV, is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms including sores, itching, and the possibility of a weakened immune system. Currently, there is no cure for herpes, but prescription medications are available to suppress the symptoms. As well, there are a number of natural supplements that work with the body to suppress symptoms, and possibly leave the virus dormant for good.

If you have been diagnosed with herpes, you may find it hard to discuss your condition with others, especially your partner. Because of the social stigma of HSV, many people with the virus worry that they will be rejected by their partner (or potential partner,) and so they keep their virus a secret. This can be a very dangerous move, as your partner may be more willing to engage in sexually risky behavior if they do not know you have herpes.

If you have found yourself in this position, there are a few things that you can do to make talking to your partner (or potential partner) about your condition more comfortable:

Get Educated - In order to have a discussion about herpes, you need to first understand the virus itself. Knowing how HSV spreads, what any long term complications might be, and how to avoid spreading the virus are all important pieces of information to have on hand before speaking with anyone about your condition. You may want to have several resources, such as facts and statistics, available when speaking with your partner in order to help them to become educated as well.

Find an Appropriate Time - When talking with your partner about your HSV, find a time when it's just the two of you and you have some time. As well, try to have the conversation face to face and not over the phone. It may be tempting to use the phone, internet, etc. to make breaking the news easier, but your partner will certainly appreciate the respect you show by having the conversation face to face more.

Remain Calm - While you may be experiencing some anxiety about speaking to your partner about your HSV, more than likely, the situation will not ever be as bad as you are making it out to be in your head. Be open and honest, and also recognize that your partner may react with surprise at first. This is normal and should be expected. Try not to let any angry reactions upset you, as your partner may not be sure how to react at first.

Once again, there is no cure for herpes, but medications are available. If you are having an adverse reaction to any herpes suppression medications, or you are tired of the high cost, you may want to consider looking into natural medications that can provide suppression effects by using your own biochemistry. In addition, many natural medications are available at a lower cost than prescriptions.