*****Yes, I have an STD*****

Ok...I am fairly new here. Have been diligently reading the posts. There are very interesting perceptions of sex and STDs and the occasional "oh, I'll never get it" attitude.

These admissions are for all those people who think they won't get one.
--you CAN, be careful
These are for all those youngins who think their sex life is over because of it.
--it isn't, believe me
These are for those people who feel it’s embarrassing.
--it only is if you let it be.
These are for all those people who trust everything their partner says.
--if you don't ask...they might not tell you
These are for all those people who know it is a big deal in some ways (medically) but also know that you life doesn't end because of it.


So here I go...join me if you wish...

I am 35. I got herpes when I was 22 from my second partner. He didn't bother to tell me he had it. I was young, a bit stupid, and had unprotected sex twice. It got complicated because of my eczema and spread to other areas of my face and body. (YES....BELIEVE ME...it can spread beyond your genitals and lips) I had a 6 year relationship with someone after that who didn't have it and they didn't get it because we were really careful...but they COULD have. I tell people I have before they even kiss me. Some men don't want anything to do with me after that (and that is just fine) and others are willing to deal with it. I have an excellent sex life...it just gets put on hold sometimes and it has also pushed me to be with people who really care about me. All power to those who sleep around more though! In some ways I wish I could. Be careful!



******There you go...that is my story...anyone else?******

I probably have mono, floating somewhere in my system. I also have fertility, perhaps the most insidious and pervasive of all sexually trasmitted diseases.

But disclosure is good. And safe sex is good. Yay for responsibility.

I had a test for everything at my local GUM clinic recently & luckily for me it was all clear, considering I've been sexually active since 16 & have not always been so careful... *hangs head in shame*

It really is like drawing straws...

But yeah, anyone scared about going really shouldn't be... They’ve seen it all before.

Well, they did seem a bit surprised by my piercing..

Heh

Wow what a brave thing to do. I think you are a wonderful human being. Life is certainly not over.

I contracted HPV a long time ago. Haven't had a flare up or any warts in years, but it's a possibility. Like you, I cannot donate blood. Luckily I'm happily married now for 9+ years, so telling future partners is no longer necessary.

a roommate of mine contracted herpes from a girl that didn't tell him about it...he in turn, thought it was only fair to not tell the girls he hooked up with...

i despised him for that fact...
so thank you for being up front about it to people

[Edited on Aug 25, 2005 by TReBlah]

I grew up in the city and always used condoms. I fortunately do not have any STD's, however I do have a friend who got herpes after her divorce. She had only been with her hubby who was her high school sweetheart and when he left her she freaked out and had sex with half of Clark County. She ended up getting herpes because she had grown up in a very rural area where no one in her high school used condoms. When she went back out into the dating world she behaved like a teenager as that was the last time she dated... and apparently no one in her hick town ever worried about HIV.

Of course it seemed foolish to me... but I believe it was a lack of education and understanding because of where she came from. The only thing worse than her situation is that she regularly continues to have unprotected sex with men she meets and I know for a fact that she doesn't tell them. Who would do it if they knew???

I just hope that she doesn't give it to anyone else... I don't care how treatable it is these days.

This is me, too. Almost exactly (with partner for 9 years, married for 7). Got it when I was 18- from my second sexual partner ever

Edited to add that I DID use condoms... HPV is an example of one of the many that are pretty easily transmitted even with condom use.

[Edited on Aug 25, 2005 by shinyredstar]

I've had two partners cheat on me and contract STDs while we were living together -- only to turn around and not tell me. Needless to say, neither of those relationships ended well, but I'm luckily testing clean for anything years later in one instance, and now again for my last relationship which ended about 7 months ago.