Finally ready to start being intimate again. What should I know?

Posted , 4 users are following.

After being diagnosed with genital herpes 4 months ago I think I am finally ready to start being intimate again. My boyfriend also has genital herpes so I won't be worried about transmitting the virus but I am worried about having an outbreak afterwards. I've read so many horrible stories about people who have outbreaks every time they are intimate. I just wanted to take every precaution to keep from having one. Since being diagnosed with genital herpes I have had several recurrent ones so I know I am pretty prone to having them. I do not wish to go on suppressive therapy so thats not an option for me. I've heard about using a water based lubricant so I plan to use that but what kind of condom should we use? Have any of you had a bad reaction to a certain type of condom or a certain type of lubricant? Should we use a pre-lubricated condom? Am I getting back in the sack too early? Basically I just would like to know everyone's experience while having sex the first time after being diagnosed. That would be extremely helpful in easing my mind about it.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi sherry, If your boyfriend has been diagnosed then you don't have to worry about passing it on luckily. Some people don't need to use lubricant because sex for them does not trigger outbreaks everybody is different. Why do you not want to go on suppressive therapy? Even for a year or so. That will cut down the outbreaks or even stop them all together so you won't have to constantly worry about every time you have sex that you will have an outbreak. I was diagnosed seven months ago and I was a bit scared the first time but then I kinda got more use to it. X
    • Posted

      Thanks so much for sharing your advice Courtney. Honestly I'm scared of what the suppressive therapy will do to my body. I've heard that it weakems your liver . I would like to have a peace of mind but I don't want to ruin my health for a peace of mind. Have you taken suppressive therapy? Has it had any affect on your body?
  • Posted

    I was diagnosed in October last year, after my initial (extremely painful) outbreak cleared up I probably waited about a month just to be sure all the sores were gone. My fiance also has it so I didnt have to worry about passing it on. There has only been once or twice since then that I feel sex has affected an outbreak at all. About an hour after having sex I could feel some itching starting. Nothing real bad but enough to be irritating. I make sure to clean myself really good after having sex,(I use flushable wipes cause they are handy) we use water based lube if any. We dont use condoms right now since we would like to have a baby so I dont have any answers about that one. 

    If I get myself cleaned up immediately after intercourse I have never had an outbreak related to sex. Mine are all stress related. 

    Really I think its a matter of learning what will make it flare up and learning how to avoid those things or make them less impactful if that makes sense

    Good luck smile

    • Posted

      Thank you Ginger for sharing your story it really helps. I know I have to learn what triggers outbreaks and what doesn't.
  • Posted

    You kno it can still be spreed wth a condom there is a good side to your story your boyfriend has it to why do you nt want supprive cause if your both on it you wont have as many breakouts i never wanted to be taken a pill for the rest of my life but i was tired of having a breakout every 2weeks

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