Herpes for Guys... a POV of what it feels like for the guys.
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Posted:Jan 7, 2009 9:52 pm
Last Updated:Oct 1, 2012 7:21 pm
7759 Views
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It's been too long since I posted anything and someone asked me to describe what genital herpes felt like from a guys point of view.
Thanks PJ52606, for asking. Feel free to make use of this as you will.
What Genital Herpes feels like from a guys POV
The onset can vary from person to person. The precursors can feel like insects crawling around your skin or prickly heat with an itchiness to it. The outbreak itself can come out much like prickly heat or an ingrown hair or a pimple. All kind of look alike and feel similar but not the same. I can tell the difference between an ingrown hair and a pimple but can’t describe it. Similarly after experiencing either and an outbreak, I can tell the difference too. Outbreaks will re-occur in the same place as the initial infection.
Now to describe an outbreak. At best it can be minor, being no more than an open pimple, though this pimple will have a white head and very red base as opposed to a pinkish red of a pimple and the white head portion will burst easily as opposed to a pimple that will hold it’s integrity until forced. I’ve had several arise to cover an area about 3/8" in diameter to later scab over with a damp scab that basically blistered over. At worst so far, in my experience of an outbreak, has been similar to a blistered scald. The area again being the same as the initial infection.
These are the external observations I have had. The treatment and precautions prescribed to me, were to keep the area clean and dry. Wear loose clean clothing over the area and change regularly. Try not to break the blisters/pustules and to avoid fluids from the blisters or pustules from being transferred to any susceptible areas. Wash hands regularly when touching that area especially during an outbreak. And avoid sexual contact during the outbreak.
I hope this helps people that aren’t sure if what they feel is possibly an outbreak. I’d say it’s better to err on the side of caution. I also hope it opens peoples eyes a bit more about what the men go through, and also consider that many women get their outbreaks internally where they can’t quite keep it dry or from chaffing. No matter how you cut it, the worst is not a nice thing to have, but not everyone has it as bad as some sites might make you think. Make sure you find some quality places to do your research on any STD / STI.
Play safely and responsibly informed.
Skilledlickr
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STD rate sparks online dating sites
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Posted:Mar 3, 2007 6:58 pm
Last Updated:Mar 30, 2008 8:00 pm
7869 Views
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I found this article from CNN and am posting it for sake of awareness. Most people won't make themselves aware of how to deal with STD transmission unless it directly affects them. In most cases it isn't till they've caught one themselves.
I edtied the article a bit, but the information is still the same really.
Rising STD rate sparks online dating sites
March 1, 2007
By Elizabeth Cohen
CNN
When John got divorced after 12 years of marriage, he took a deep breath and launched into the dating scene.
"And wham, with my very first girlfriend, I caught herpes," he says. "You feel betrayed and all of a sudden separated from the rest of the world. I thought at the time that the girl who gave it to me and I were the only people in the world who had it."
But John and his date are far from alone. And the growing number of people in similar situations has created a new industry: Internet dating sites just for people with STDs. From ______, Web sites abound for the infected who want to date the infected.
It's not surprising once you see the numbers. One in four women is infected with genital herpes, and nearly one in five men according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And a study in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association finds that one in four women has human papillomavirus, which can cause genital warts and cervical cancer.
Once John got over the initial shock of his diagnosis, one of the first things he did was go online, everything changed. "I would have been happy to have had just one person to unload everything I was feeling," he says. "Instead I found more than 500."
"Charlotteh" was started two years ago by Pam - who, like John, doesn't want her last name used. She discovered she had herpes, and dating had become difficult.
"I'm 27, working on a Ph.D., own a second home, I have a master's degree, but when I go into a relationship, I bring this with me, and that's hard," she says.
Even knowing when to tell a prospective boyfriend about herpes is tough. "It's confusing, because you don't know when the right time is to tell somebody. Should you be up front and get it over with or wait until the person develops feelings for you? It's a big ethical problem."
For Jennifer Nicholas, it was more than just an ethical problem. Once she told men she was dating about herpes, many ran in the opposite direction.
"One guy, I thought he was Mr. Perfect. But then when I told him that I had herpes, he said, 'Forget my phone number, forget my address,' and he blocked me from being able to message him on the computer," she says.
Jennifer joined a site for people with herpes. These sites immediately take several questions off the table. Members don't have to worry about when to tell other members they have herpes, since everyone in the group does. And they don't have to worry about spreading herpes, since the other members already have it.
Pam says at first, people are very nervous about joining, because it may be the first time they identify themselves as having herpes.
"People show up for their first support group meeting and sometimes they turn right around at the door because they don't have the courage to come in," said Pam. But then later, "I have people sending me thank you e-mails all the time. A guy came to a support group meeting and sent me flowers."
Since many of the members have not come out to family and friends, a password is needed to get into the photo gallery showing pictures of social events and to receive any specific information about members.
A big part of STD Internet groups is social outings. One site lists events for people with herpes in some 40 cities, from San Francisco, California, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Some events attract hundreds of people. They look just like any other large party. "When we go on outings, we don't put a sign up in the hallway saying, 'Meeting of the herpes club,'" Pam said, "Once we went to dinner and there were 30 of us and the hostess asked, 'What's the special occasion?' My friend said, 'We're the pottery club!'"
CNN Medical News senior producer Jennifer Pifer contributed to this report.
BE INFORMED & PLAY SAFE
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Talk to me here if you like
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Posted:Nov 20, 2006 11:10 pm
Last Updated:Dec 26, 2006 7:35 pm
7327 Views
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I'll be checking the blog here more I think, but if you'd like to direct me to a group thread or chat area feel free to let me know where to find you sometime. It's only talk.
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A Little Herpes
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Posted:Nov 20, 2006 11:05 pm
Last Updated:Oct 1, 2012 7:21 pm
8417 Views
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11/20/06
I've been on here a while and met people too. The thing now is that I have tested positive for herpes. I have found that doctors can be kind of on the cold side about the diagnosis. It may be they feel uncomfortable with it or just not as informed on it as they should be. The one who first diagnosed me said I had it, life isn't over, here's a perscription for Valtrex and a sheet of information that made me feel like a true bio-hazard leper and scared the crap out of me. I sure felt like my life was over.
I thought that use of condoms and not having oral sex with someone with an active cold sore was safe. Well I guess not for obvious reasons.
Please allow me to impart a little information for you and advise you some.
Life is by no means easy with an STD, but provided you are informed and aware you can still interact with people without passing infection. I found that with herpes as with most STDs it is passed trough direct contact with the infected area. This is why a condom does not fully protect you. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is passed from direct contact with the infected area, most commonly the lips and mouth for HSV-1, and the genital area for HSV-2. Though either can be found genitally, and orally, they tend to prefer their given location (HSV-1 in the oral area, and HSV-2 in the genital area). If both are found in one area it is more likely to be in the genital area as HSV-2 is less likely to be found orally, though not unheard of.
The reason a condom is not fully protective is because it covers only the penis and the parts of the woman that only the penis touches. Herpes can be found in the mons area as well and usually will need to find a way in through the skin,(like a cut, a sore, an ingrown hair), or will readily pass through mucus membranes.
There are treatments to reduce possibilities of exposure and ways to protect from the passing of the infection so if you find you think someone is worth the risk to be carefull and informed enough
to have sex with you can feel protected and safe.
First off I'd suggest every one check out the Center for Disease Control website for information.
Second I'd suggest any one sexually active outside a mutually exclusive monosexual relationship, get tested at least twice a year for all STDs. Some times you don't know you have something or dimiss it as something much smaller.
When I found out I had this I couldn't believe that someone knew they had this and passed it on to me . Well I found out that they may not have known. The thing that will really blow your mind is the statistics say there are 1 out of every 5 people who are infected with herpes and if you throw in HIV sufferes it jumps to 1 out of 4 people. Look around and think now about those numbers and you could already be one of them even if you never had sex, but we can talk about that later.
Remember too as you are looking that there are good people out there who would never wish to see themselves pass an infection on to anyone else. They need understanding, paitience, and love as much as anyone else. They may be more special to you than you'll know unless you give them a chance. If they have the honesty and courage to tell you about what they have... Have the courtesy to treat them as a human being. Not a hot potato, or as someone who is promiscous or dirty. It only takes once to become infected and in many cases it was forced upon them like or a lying lover. So don't judge before you have all the facts. Become informed for your own sake and get tested.
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