I contracted herpes. In my mind, I was now contaminated... permanently! Forever, I would be a discarded, diseased, disgusting individual. I chose denial....for years. Pretending, and worst of all, passing along this dreaded thing. For that, I apologize to all my friends here, who have shown far more strength and responsibility than I.
12 years later, I chose to grow up. I chose acceptance. I was positively diagnosed. "Its not the end of the world" my doctor responded. "How could it not be" I thought!

At home, for the very first time, I searched the web for information about herpes. A whole new world opened up to me. I found mpwh.com, as well as local support and social groups. What I really found was so much more than I had expected. I found people who could really relate. I found a place to drop this incredible burden that I was carrying alone for so many years. I found acceptance and confidence. I found that I could not only deal with this herpes issue, but that it became so much less of an issue for me. I found the strength and responsibility to talk with potential partners about my condition. I did so with confidence and concern.

I have come a long way. The friendships I have made with those folks on the website and at my local support group are very close. There is something about the friendship one makes with others who endure the same hardships that really bonds.

Bottom line is, without the friendships and support I've found here, I would still be enslaved to an awful prison of secrecy and shame. Now why would anyone stay there, alone and ashamed when there are the most wonderful bunch of friends and family reaching between the bars and handing over the keyes?


I used to be a short, fat, bald, wimpy little boy until I found this wonderful site, MPwH. Now, I am a tall, muscular, hairy, deep-voiced macho man with many herpster friends!!! I can't thank MPwH enough for creating this cyber fun-center. :)

I got herpes at 23 years old from the second person I had ever been with in my life. I was shell shocked for a few weeks after hearing the news. I thought I was being punnished for something I had done in a prior life, or given one hell of a challenge I'd one day learn to live with.
For two years I threw myself into work and taking classes in subjects I enjoyed. I applied for grad school and avoided any sort of dating or social interaction other than hanging out with friends.