Most people who have an STD have no symptoms. A test from your health care provider or local health clinic may be the only sure way to tell if you’re infected.
If you do have symptoms, they may appear right away, or they might not show up for weeks or even months. They might come and go. Even if the symptoms disappear, the disease may still be active.
Next time you use a pair of rubber gloves, you’re going to smile when you think of this:
A dentist noticed that his next patient, a little old lady, was nervous so he decided to tell her a little joke as he put on his gloves.
“Do you know how they make these gloves?” he asked.
“No, I don’t,” she replied.
“Well,” he spoofed, “there’s a building in Canada with a big tank of latex and workers of all hand sizes walk up to the tank, dip in their hands, let them dry, then peel off the gloves and throw them into boxes of the right size.”
She didn’t crack a smile.
“Oh, well. I tried,” he thought.
But five minutes later, during a delicate portion of the procedure, she burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“I was just envisioning how condoms are made!”
Gotta watch those little old ladies! Their minds are always working!
Yes. Many STD infections cause no signs or symptoms in women. Women may be infected deep inside, where symptoms are not easily seen. Untreated STDs can cause problem pregnancies or even prevent a woman from getting pregnant. Often a woman has no idea that she has an STD until the infection has caused lasting damage.
STDs can also be passed from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or at birth. However, early treatment can often protect the baby from illness or death.
Is there a quote that you know of that provided you with an ah-hah moment? You know, the quote that has words of wisdom that helped you turn your life around? If so, please consider sending me that quote so I can include it on a quote page I’m working on.
I come into contact with hundreds, if not, thousands of people every year that write to me thinking that there life is over and sometimes a handy quote that they can stick on their mirror in the bathroom is just what some of these people need to be reminded that they are special and their life has value and meaning.
Thank you so much!
I have had Herpetic Whitlow on my left thumb for 12 years. I contracted it back in 1996 and I have no idea how. I have been struggling living with this debilitating disease and I find it really hard to care for my two children. I constantly wear latex gloves when bathing or changing them and am still in fear of giving this to them. From what I understand, in-tact skin doesn’t shed, so as long as I am not currently having an outbreak, I am not contagious. But I struggle with this aspect and even when I am not experiencing an outbreak, I still wear the gloves.
When I first got this, I was breaking out on an average of every other month, it was awful. But then my doc put me on Famvir, 500 mg, twice daily. Over the years, my OBs have become less frequent. I believe this is due to the Famvir and the virus getting weaker over time. I broke out a week before my first daughter was born, which sucked and then two years went by and I hadn’t broken out at all until I was pregnant with my second child. Then, I broke out at 7 months pregnant and again a week before the birth of my daughter. Luckily, I have a very caring and understanding husband who was willing to do all of the bathing and changing until my outbreaks healed.
This may sound completely ignorant, but I honestly feel that if I had Herpes genitally or orally, I wouldn’t struggle with this as much. For the simple fact that I would still be able to change diapers, bathe my children and interact freely with them without concern. Having this on my hand is very hard to deal with when having children. – M
This past weekend my boyfriend and I broke up, it was because of the ‘h‘ but for other issues. We had not slept together yet, but it was just because it didnt feel like the right time to me.
After we broke up I realized he was just telling me what he thought I wanted to hear hoping that it would make the situation feel right, and then I would sleep with him.
Right after we broke up he went and found someone to sleep with.
Herpes can be a real drag, but it has encouraged me to be more picky about who I see and have the talk with. I am glad that I had the talk with him, but even more glad that I had strength in myself enough to not sleep with him.
Herpes does not change the person you are or make you any less of a wonderful catch. It took me a while to figure this out, and even longer to actually have the strength to stand up to him and tell that I would not let him keep treating me like shit.
It has been hard to see him with someone else, but I know I am better off without him.
I just needed to tell someone.
The surest way to prevent STDs is not to have sex. There are many ways to show love and feel good without having sex. For example, you can touch, kiss, cuddle or talk. In general, using your hands to give pleasure is safe.
FYI: Oral sex is Not considered safe sex at all.
You can also wait until you get married before you have sex with somebody for the first time.
I have a NEW song you guys. I also have a new Myspace friend. You might want to add them to your friends list. I’m going to move them to my top list — it’s ASHA.
I know that a lot of you have been sending me tons of questions about Herpes, HPV, and other STDs. Well, they are an awesome resource to have for answering those questions too.
It’s always good to have as many good resources that you can at your fingertips. Remember, having issues with STDs does not define who you are!!
You are YOU and STIs can NOT take YOU away from YOU!!
People are attracted to and are far more likely to stay with confident people. You attract what you project. If, you can’t see your self worth and feel your are defined by circumstance then others will see it to. If, you try and reason out and understand why others wouldn’t date you because of herpes then I would say, “no” you can’t see who you are. You can’t see that you are the same person before you were infected. You and only you can determine your outcome. If, you will only date in the herpes community. Feel that everyone will automatically “run”. Have a why bother attitude. Feel defected in some way. Herpes didn’t do this to you. You did it to yourself.
When, I was first dx I felt this way. I did this to myself, not herpes. After a while, I actually saw it as an opportunity for growth. To grow more spiritual, find out who I really was and wanted. Honestly, I don’t think I would have accomplished as much as I have in the last 15 months, since, my dx if I didn’t have this. Adversity can be used as an a tool to bring you down and keep you there or growth if you choose it to. I have noticed the change in me along with those around me. All in a very positive way.
I, personally belong to the Christian community. And, we have MANY MANY members that are in discordant relationships. (One has it and one doesn’t). And, a true Christian would think it WRONG to not see someone based on herpes. If, a Christian “ran” from me. I would give them the Bible and tell them to read it again.
If, I didn’t have it. And, I considered not seeing someone that did. I would be EMBARASSED if anyone I knew how I felt. So, it is obviously which route I would take.
Date everyone. Reverse discrimination is wrong. Plus, statistically, speaking 75% of the non-herpes population will go into a discordant relationship. For those, who have had bad experiences in the telling, you just happened to be with the 25%. Those are the 25% I would consider it a blessing to have not wasted any more of my time than needed.
I can be blunt in my posts. But, I remember when first signing on to PUP. Angela didn’t sugar coat things with me. And, I’m thankful that she didn’t. It help me move at a quicker pace. So, Angela, thank you. More than you know. – L
* L is a regular member on PUP as well as an H Pal. She had sent out this post one day during a conversation that we were having over there. I thought it was so good that I asked if I could have permission to post it here on my blog. She agreed.
If you have any advice OR words of wisdom that you would like me to share here on my blog I hope you will send it to me AND give me your blessing to post it! Thanks for your time! :)
