World AIDS Day Ever wondered why you see red ribbons everywhere in early December? Well, it’s because of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day takes place on the 1st of December each year and is all about showing support for people living with HIV, raising awareness about HIV prevention, testing […]
What is contraception? Contraception, also sometimes referred to as ‘birth control’, is something people can use when they want to have sex that can result in pregnancy, but do not want to become pregnant or have a baby. Understanding contraception and figuring out the best contraceptive method for you is […]
Exploring the benefits and purpose of a dental dam Dental dams may not be trending across social media but could this lesser-known barrier method be a good option for you? What is a dental dam? A dental dam is a thin, stretchy piece of latex or polyurethane that can be […]
World AIDS Day Ever wondered why you see red ribbons everywhere in early December? Well, it’s because of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day takes place on the 1st of December each year and is all about showing support for people living with HIV, raising awareness about HIV prevention, testing […]
What is contraception? Contraception, also sometimes referred to as ‘birth control’, is something people can use when they want to have sex that can result in pregnancy, but do not want to become pregnant or have a baby. Understanding contraception and figuring out the best contraceptive method for you is […]
Exploring the benefits and purpose of a dental dam Dental dams may not be trending across social media but could this lesser-known barrier method be a good option for you? What is a dental dam? A dental dam is a thin, stretchy piece of latex or polyurethane that can be […]
If you’ve been diagnosed with a sexually transmissible infection (STI), you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, worried or unsure about what’s next. It might seem scary but getting an STI is not the end of the world. In fact, 4 million people in Australia will get an STI at […]
Herpes might be the most misunderstood infections around so let’s start with the facts.
Herpes is usually a mild skin condition. Most people don’t even know they have it because it doesn’t cause any problems. If you don’t get symptoms, you don’t need treatment.
Of course if you do get sores on the mouth, genitals or bum it can be uncomfortable. Herpes sores will usually heal within about a week on their own. Some people will notice these symptoms a few times a year, other people won’t get symptoms again until many years later.
If your symptoms are painful, ask your doctor for a prescription for antiviral medication. This will help them heal faster. Anti-viral medication only works if you take it right when symptoms first start to appearso don’t wait. If you get symptoms frequently (6 times a year or more) then the medication works better if you take it every day.
Yes, you can still have a happy and healthy sex life after being diagnosed with herpes! The stigma about herpes is mostly due to bad information. There is no more reason to be ashamed of having herpes than having the flu. They’re simply viruses we get from normal human contact with other people. People diagnosed with herpes are often really worried about passing it on to a sexual partner. Being confident about how herpes is — and how it isn’t — passed on can relieve some of that stress.
Herpes is super common. Luckily having herpes is more likely to be an annoyance than a serious illness. Feeling ashamed about herpes can have a huge impact though. If you’re still struggling with a diagnosis, there is help: start a discussion with other young people on the Play Safe Forum, call the Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 to speak with specialist nurse or make an appointment with a counsellor for support.
Also check out:
Herpes Part 2: How to avoid passing it on
Herpes Part 3: How to talk about it with a partner