Testing for Herpes
Living With Herpes: Treatment and Emotional Well-Being
Undergoing testing for herpes could be important to your long-term health and that of your sexual partner and family members. That’s why a service provider like Rapid STD Testing offers a useful rapid STD test to help you quickly diagnose the issue and pursue the correct treatment.
However, getting a diagnosis is only half the battle; once you receive clarity, you need to determine how to move forward. With herpes, treatment should be a priority. While herpes may never go away, the correct treatment can help you quickly heal sores, reduce the risk of another outbreak (or the severity of symptoms), and decrease the risk of spreading the virus.
Antiviral medications are the most common options for treatment, including the following:
- Acyclovir
- Famciclovir
- Valacyclovir
Each of these treatments has proven effective, and patients can take them for extended periods without drawbacks. Which you use and the dosage will depend on your situation.
However, the physical symptoms of herpes aren’t the only things to concern yourself with. A herpes diagnosis or any STD can have an emotional impact on you if you’re unaware of its source or don’t expect it.
For example, it’s common to feel angry or to blame a sexual partner from whom you may have contracted herpes. You may also feel embarrassed to admit to having herpes, concerned about the future, or struggle with issues like depression. However you feel, it’s important to take care of your emotional needs, communicate openly and honestly with any sexual partners, and seek support so that you can work through how the situation makes you feel.
Educating yourself could help you with the following:
- Deal with the emotional turmoil of a herpes diagnosis
- Learn more about the disease to help yourself better understand your situation
- Reduce the impact of the social stigma
Finally, consider looking for support groups in your area that help people struggling with a herpes diagnosis to share their experiences and struggles. You can take the opportunity to ask for advice, discuss your questions, and more. Knowing you’re not alone can help.