The Morality Of A Chronic Herpes Virus

The Morality Of A Chronic Herpes Virus

My own lifelong herpes infection has provided me with a number of ethical issues from the beginning. I've been tested on when and to whom to disclose. It has tested my ability to know how and what to say to people who have herpes. The question of "Do I have any responsibilities towards trying to prevent the people in the community who do not have herpes from getting it, and if so what are they" has been put to the test.

About when and how to tell:

The physicians who diagnosed me with herpes informed me that I would get warning indications when an outbreak was about to happen and that it was okay to have sex with other people as long as I avoided doing so. Fortunately, now days we have access to far better information. Every day of the year is potentially contagious for someone with herpes, so the best approach to make sure you're not unintentionally spreading the virus during sexual activity is to use safer methods like using a condom or dental dam in addition to anti-viral gel.

I was a careless coward when I initially developed herpes. I made the decision that I would only disclose my herpes diagnosis to someone if and when it appeared that the relationship was developing seriously and there would be frequent sexual contact because the physicians had informed me that I wasn't contagious without outbreaks and because I regularly used condoms. Thinking that there would be too little danger to others if I stuck my neck out and faced rejection because I was a herpes leper, I had rationalized my timidity. Don't be like me, please. It is completely inappropriate to keep your herpes diagnosis a secret from someone before engaging in sexual activity. It's not really justifiable. I now disclose my herpes status to prospective partners before we go on a date. It feels like the proper thing to do, and it helps me release the guilt that most herpes patients have.

A lot of people tell me that you should wait to tell someone about your herpes until the relationship grows serious before disclosing that you have it. Although waiting till after sex is far worse than doing this, in my opinion, it's still not good enough. Why not let someone know right away if you appreciate and care about them so they may choose whether or not to spend the time and effort getting to know you better? Allowing someone to grow romantic feelings for you without alerting them to the possibility of a lifelong viral infection is a little exploitative, don't you think? Consider it. They could feel pressured to carry on with the connection when they might not have if you had told them straight away if you wait until they are already emotionally invested in you. Early disclosure requires more guts and honesty, but it feels good to get the burden off your chest, and the person you tell will typically appreciate you for giving them the option.

Since I think males are less protective of their sex partners than women are when it comes to disclosing about herpes, I am particularly appealing to men. Guys, please don't disclose your herpes to everyone you have sex with. Furthermore, if they are ignorant of the facts, don't downplay the dangers: herpes affects women more severely than it does men, both physically and psychologically, and it is far easier for a man to infect a woman than it is for a woman to infect a man.

Regarding how and what to say to those who have herpes:

I practice holistic healing and am a homeopath and herbalist. My family has been practicing healing for many generations, dating back to Africa and my home country of Trinidad and Tobago. Before I developed herpes personally, I had little to no interest in treating herpes as a healer. I made the decision to base my business on treating herpes holistically because I wanted to turn a bad into a good. The Bible declares, "I will make my cornerstone out of the stone that the builder refused." The Wailers and Bob Marley also sing about it.

Once I made the decision to specialize in holistic viral treatment, I quickly realized that I was up against a formidable opponent. The majority of experts, including every herbalist and homeopath I know, mainly rely on recommendations to grow their clientele. I was dealing with a clientele from which I would never receive many references at this point. My herpes sufferers don't go around bragging to everyone about how much I helped them with their outbreaks. Many of my patients have not disclosed their herpes status to their closest friends or family members, and others have not even told their partners. I'm not a business. I have no money set out for advertising. Speaking up about my work and herpes in general in public was the only way I could urge individuals who have the disease to come see me for treatment. I would never have chosen to be this open about my sexual orientation, but this pushed me to be.

I always seem to put myself in difficult circumstances. It's not a chore for the weak of heart to speak with people who have herpes. Some folks like to "shoot the messenger," and I can attest to that because I have gunshot wounds. However, I can state that one of the most fulfilling experiences I've had in my life has been and still is talking to other people who have herpes. Many of the herpes-afflicted persons I interact with have strong bonds with me. It was during team sports that I experienced this kind of bond. I've always had a connection of this kind with other Black folks. Something about "us against the world" has the power to strengthen bonds between individuals. Love my buddies with herpes. Even the misbehaving herpes patients have my undying adoration. While I don't regret obtaining herpes, I also don't feel thankful for getting it. However, the reality stings, and I must share some painful facts with other herpes sufferers:

It is not a free pass for unprotected sex to occur when your significant other has herpes. Even if one of you gave the other the strain, even if you both have it. Unprotected sexual activity between partners can and frequently will exacerbate the herpes cases of one or both partners. Re-inoculation is the term for it, and many people who have herpes don't want to hear it.

It is impossible to determine if you are shedding a virus if you have cold sores or herpes because you could spread the infection every day. Therefore, when having sex, do think about using a condom or dental dam together with an antiviral gel, and do exercise caution when sharing wet towels or washcloths with other people.

Since no two people contract herpes in the same way, you will experience the virus uniquely and must develop a strategy for handling it on all the various levels at which it may arise.

It is unlikely that there will be a herpes cure in our lifetimes, and there are no quick fixes for managing herpes. The use of topical medications, such as creams, lotions, or essential oils, is insufficient for managing herpes. Changing your diet, controlling stress and other stressors, and sometimes using medication or natural treatment are all necessary for managing herpes.

As you age, you might not experience fewer outbreaks. Although this is frequently the case, as no two cases of herpes are alike, a variety of circumstances, including menopause, other illnesses, self-harm, unprotected sex, and other traumas, can alter the frequency and intensity of outbreaks at any time throughout the course of your lifetime.

You can spread cold sores to other people even in the absence of visible lesions, making them just as contagious as genital herpes.

It is true that having herpes increases your risk of contracting HIV, cervical dysplasia, and genital warts, among other STDs.

L-lysine is a useless treatment for herpes that can really make things worse. Avoid using it on a daily basis. There are safer, more natural alternatives available for treating herpes, such garlic.

Regarding conversing with people without herpes:

The mainstream and alternative media do not want to discuss herpes, which serves as a sobering reminder of reality for me. They would rather us stay in our ghetto. People without herpes have few resources to learn the truth about herpes because there is a lot of false information out there. Young people are not receiving enough education on herpes in schools, and they are not hearing the realities in their churches. The majority of parents do not educate their kids about herpes, and older siblings do not share knowledge with their younger siblings.

It is truly up to those of us with herpes to make a greater effort to communicate with those without. HIV won't be the last word in the world of viruses when it comes to controlling the human population. We will be in serious trouble if we can't figure out better ways to prevent the general public from contracting herpes and other STDs. Herpes is a gateway illness, meaning that any STD can easily enter your body through your mucous membranes.

I firmly believe that those of us in the herpes community should speak up more in the media and engage with people in our community. Everybody instruct one. Everybody gets to one.

Christopher Scipio

Expert in Holistic Herpes Treatment

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