The Complexities of a Herpes Diagnosis
It’s easy to make assumptions about certain health conditions, but the reality might surprise you — especially when it comes to STIs like herpes.
Most people don’t understand the realities of herpes until they or someone close to them is diagnosed.
Professionals aren’t immune to this sense of invincibility, either. It might surprise some people to learn that even with my background in relationships and intimacy, I, too, believed stereotypes about people with STIs.
Until I was diagnosed.
Thats when the unlearning happened for myself, as well as many people close to me as I started to share what I was going through.
I learned facts about the virus, as well as what my health education failed to teach me. Like the fact that herpes can remain dormant for weeks, months, and even years —which makes it difficult to pinpoint the source of infection. Unless you have a testing history.. which many people also don’t have.
My latest for Substack talks about why it can be so challenging to find out exactly when or where you got herpes. 📣PSA📣 it’s not as simple as the last person you hooked up with!
You can read more on Substack through the 🔗 in my bio.