By the time you become sexually active, you’ve probably heard many untrue things about herpes and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). All this misinformation can be quite misleading. So, it’s time to talk about STIs for real. Staying informed will help destigmatize STIs like herpes. It can also make treatments like herpes medication more accessible.
STIs Are More Common Than You Think
Most of the stigma and emotional distress caused by herpes and other STIs are due to a lack of information. But finding helpful, accurate information is not always easy. Instead of accepting rumor as fact, you have to fact-check on your own. By doing this, you can help reduce the stigma toward STIs by advocating for open discussion. This calls for information backed by medical professionals. You can also prevent or reduce the stigma by keeping your sexual partners informed about your sexual history and status. When dating, you should tell them about your treatment plan with something like herpes medication. Clear communication is key.
Many STIs Are Asymptomatic
Believe it or not, a large number of people with chlamydia don’t even experience symptoms (up to 75% of people with vaginas and up to 50% of people with penises). Similarly, most people who have herpes don’t know they have herpes or think it’s something else, like canker sores in the mouth.
The point is that most STIs are not transferred when people are showing symptoms. People are not usually going around spreading STIs willy-nilly when they know about them. That would be really messed up. STIs are more often transferred during the asymptomatic shedding of the viruses. It’s crucial to change this perception and have safer sexual interactions. We can all do this by discussing STIs and bacterial infections openly and often.
You Should Get Checked and Recognize STIs and Bacterial Infections
Of STIs alone, there are eight known viral infections. When you show symptoms for one, they may be similar to another. You might even confuse them with some symptoms of bacterial infections like bacterial vaginosis. Or a yeast overgrowth, which causes a yeast infection. Easily manageable or curable STIs can still have long-term impacts on your health, so it’s important to get checked. That way, you can know what you’re dealing with and get the proper treatment.
Unfortunately, there is no herpes test during an STI screening because it can only show positive if you are currently shedding the virus. There is no cure for an STI such as herpes, but herpes medication can help suppress the virus and reduce recurrences. If you suspect there is something wrong down there and are going to get screened, ask for a herpes test just in case.
There Are Two Types of Herpes—And Half the Population Has One!
Herpes is one of the most common STIs, even if its symptoms can be mild or go unnoticed. Asymptomatic Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) is one reason this STI is easily transferred in both its forms. HSV-1 typically causes oral herpes. HSV-2 likes hanging out downstairs. Yet you can contract both HSV-1 and HSV-2 on your genitals, and they both are treated with herpes medication. One in six people will contract genital herpes in their lifetime, and many will never even know it. That makes it really difficult to pinpoint how you acquired the virus.
Find Resources for Quick Access to Herpes Medication
If you have contracted an STI, you need access to the proper treatment plan. Hoping that your condition goes away on its own is not the solution, nor are home remedies. Putting off treatment can lead to long-term complications like inflammation and infertility. Unfortunately, it can take days between an in-person evaluation and receiving medication. Thankfully, there are online sexual healthcare providers that can give you quick access to options like herpes medication. You will still have to speak with a provider online for a prescription. But it’s much easier and faster than more traditional options. If it’s not an STI like herpes, online sexual healthcare offers fast delivery when you need something such as BV treatment over the counter. Some even provide symptom quizzes to help you better understand what you may be dealing with.
You’re Still You
With any new diagnosis, it’s key to remember that it does not make you dirty or a bad person—if anything, it makes you human! You don’t deserve to be shamed for your sexual practices. In fact, you can still have sex after an STI diagnosis as long as you do so safely and with full disclosure. So, when can you start having sex again after an outbreak or recurrence? For herpes, it’s seven days after the sores have completely healed. Keep in mind herpes can require a long-term treatment approach with a herpes medication that suppresses the virus. For an infection like bacterial vaginosis, which is not an STI, you can have sex seven days after you complete your BV treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, consult with a medical provider.
Herpes and other STIs are more common than many people like to believe. Having open, educated discussions about them can help destigmatize them. Plus, being well-informed makes recognizing signs of an outbreak or recurrence easier. Finding providers and accessing herpes medication or other STI treatments can be straightforward. Through it all, remember: You’re still you. You and others with an STI diagnosis can keep living your lives. You’ll be able to have fun and enjoy sex even after a diagnosis—as long as you’re safe about it.
About Wisp
When you want quick, hassle-free treatments and care for common reproductive infections, STIs, and birth control, Wisp provides it. Let’s be real—sometimes, what’s going on down there can be confusing. But it doesn’t have to be! Reproductive infections and STIs are way more common than you’d think, and hormonal birth control has been around for over half a century. So you can still be your usual, sexually active self. And now, you can be safer with Wisp. The online, one-stop shop for sexual healthcare makes sexual health accessible to everyone, plus you can request treatment online and pick it up in three hours. From recognizing symptoms to chatting with a medical provider to getting prescriptions or over the counter remedies, Wisp helps you stay informed, safe, and healthy. Whether you suspect bacterial vaginosis, need treatment for yeast infection, or want a quick prescription for a herpes recurrence, you can get the discreet support you need from Wisp.
Find sexual healthcare resources, including treatments and information, at https://hellowisp.com/
