The Michigan Daily has a great article up about the split between the bad/gross/dirty reputation of herpes and the actual human beings who suffer from it. The article recounts the experiences of a college student who contracted herpes two years ago, yet has still been dating – and telling partners about her herpes, too.

The interviewee makes a good point near the end – that society's ignorance about herpes in general has actually been much more difficult to handle than judgement from potential partners:

She also noted that while she faced rejection since contracting herpes, she has never been rejected by a man she has dated. “The only stigma I have felt has been from the public.” Jane noted, “Most of the discussions I have heard on campus are related to STIs in general or HIV. I haven’t heard anyone talking about herpes.”