Sexual Health Buzz

I started writing my story full of pain and anguish when I decided to change it. Being diagnosed with HPV and molluscum at 19 is the farthest thing from easy, but it has made me a stronger person and helped me realize just how lucky I am.

For months I was in and out of the doctors being treated for these two viruses. When I first found the bump I was told it was simply a skin tag by two doctors. A month and a test later, new bumps formed and I was then told I had HPV as well as molluscum. It was an emotional roller coaster ride where I was being thrown back and forth between having an STD and having a normal condition. I lost weight, became depressed and barely passed my classes. After reading all the information on the Internet and seeing the horrible pictures, I also became paranoid and was tested for other STDs multiple times to make sure I didn’t have them as well. Not to mention it strained the relationship between my boyfriend and me significantly. But there is good news despite all this…

Six months later, I am a unbelievably stronger and better person than I was before being diagnosed. I vowed to treat my body with respect and did everything possible to get better. I began taking vitamins everyday, got more sleep, quit drinking and smoking, and ate good foods. I read books on how to strengthen my immune system and learned everything there is to know about the viruses I have. I know it may seem like HPV is a sentence for life, but it is not. I had only two outbreaks and for five months now I haven’t had any!! Your body can heal itself in miraculous ways, but only if you give it the right tools to do so.

Healing is not just physical though…it’s also spiritual and emotional. After finding out you have an STD it is hard not to feel guilty and get down on yourself. I blamed myself for not being careful and felt like no one would ever want to be with me again. A lot of the times I was disgusted with my body and just wanted to jump out of my skin. But I was very blessed to have support from my family and boyfriend. They all told me that having a virus does not define who I am. I am the same person and they love me the same as they did before. It took me awhile to feel this way about myself, but with time I got there. I realized that some things are just out of your control. You must simply accept them and try your best to deal with them. Sitting down and dwelling on it will never get you anywhere; you can only go forward and learn from the obstacles that come your way.

If having an STD taught me anything it is to love myself no matter what. I am the only one who is able to define how I will live my life, not a virus. That is all HPV or any other STD is….a tiny, little virus. It’s your choice whether or not you let it stop you from being yourself. Know that there is a power higher than you and no problem, circumstance, or situation is greater than God. – Alisa

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Question or Comment

I prayed to God for an answer I have lived with frequent outbreaks for 14 years then I started craving lemons every day I would squeeze half a lemon into 1 glass of water I would even eat lemons then my sores went away 1 month latter I got tested for herpies and they could only find the herpies anti-bodies in my body.  I went on a search about lemons and lemons can kill the hiv in a petri dish according to a web site but I had stoped with the lemons and 6 months latter they came back. .Point being I believe that I have found a possible remedy to reduce herpies frequences in fact I read the lemons actually increase the immune system.  Anyway I thought that you would find this interesting

Here’s what I think

Eating lemons does absolutely nothing for the herpes virus. In fact, I don’t think you will find anything clinical that would back up your theory.

Also, having herpes antibodies means that you have herpes. Just because you don’t get outbreaks that you can see or feel doesn’t mean that you no longer have the herpes virus.

Many people out there have herpes and they don’t know it because they don’t get symptoms that they can see or feel. It’s still possible to pass herpes even if there are no outbreaks that you can see or feel.

Once you contract herpes, you keep it for life. To date, there is no way to wipe out the herpes virus from your system once you contract it.

I received HSV type 1 from my boyfriend (whom I am still with) from oral sex :( about 10 months ago. I know that herpes always stays with you and even if you don’t have an outbreak it sheds and can be spread. However, I have not had any outbreaks since my first one and my boyfriend already has HSV 1.

I just went to my gyno and he told me to go on Valtrex daily; however, all he knows is I have herpes. He didn’t ask me any questions about my specific situation. I put in my prescription and it happens to be a lot of money which I just don’t have sadly.

My question is: Which is better; daily therapy or episodic treatment? Even if I don’t have a lot of outbreaks, should I be taking Valtrex daily? If so, I will find a way to pay for it, I just wanted someone else’s advice.

I don’t know who else to ask because I don’t know anyone else that has it… If you could message me back with an answer that would be so helpful.  Also, your site makes me feel so much better about myself. Thank you so much for doing what you do!

Here’s my response

I don’t really see why there would be a need for you to be on suppressive therapy since 1.) you don’t get that many outbreaks and 2.) you and your boyfriend both have herpes.

It’s not as if you were trying to keep him from contracting herpes since he already has it, right?

Now I could see going on suppressive therapy if you were having too many outbreaks OR you were trying to keep your partner from contracting herpes but that just isn’t the case with the situation that you described, ya know?

Hope my response was helpful for you…

Question:

My boyfriend wants to protect me from HSV-2 he got back in ‘02. He’s never taken meds, gets 1-2 OBs a year, only one sore on the back of his thigh. We have a question about shedding. Can we cuddle naked in bed when there is no OB or tingling? Does shedding mean he always has to wear pjs to bed?  Can it be transmitted to any part of my body?

Answer:

I think it’s great that your boyfriend wants to protect you and keep you from contracting herpes. I guess what I’m wondering is if you  have ever had accurate herpes testing done? What if you already have the virus and just don’t know it? I think it’s best to be aware of both of your STD status so that you can make more informed decisions together.

Asymptomatic shedding just means that the virus has traveled to the surface of the skin, is active, and you just can’t see OR feel it. So I guess I don’t understand why you don’t think that you can cuddle naked? No, Asymptomatic shedding does not mean he always has to wear his pjs to bed.

The only way he can pass herpes to you is through sex, anal sex, oral sex, OR kissing. Of course this all depends on what type of herpes he has and where it’s located. But seriously, why don’t you have proper herpes testing done so you will know if you have herpes OR not?