I have had HSV-1 swab test come up positive in April of this year.  Its been tough at times but then there are times when I forget I have it.  I think I  might have had 2 outbreaks since April but I also think they could just be rashes.  My last diagnosed outbreak also could have been a rash I scratched too much causing it to resemble sores/ulcers.  The doctors I have seen do not seem very well educated on the topic, they dont share any more information than I can find myself. There is comfort in the commonality of Herpes, there is comfort in the fact that 2/3 of those with HSV have mild to non noticeable symptoms.  It is a silent epidemic, you never see it discussed in movies and you never really hear about your friends having it either. Yes, I dont want to tell people I have it.  I am lucky in that I have HSV1 genitally as if I meet a woman who has HSV orally, they are the same virus.  I have read the virus can appear at the same site, but I also read the prodrome symptoms can last from 2 hours to 2 days....

Sex life is not over, love life is not over, you just need to reevaluate how you see yourself. If your sexual identity means that much to you, that is a rather shallow definiton of who you are. Start to define yoursefl in other ways.  I think the sexual freedom you have by not having herpes is a hard thing to comprehend. I hope this brings some comfort to my HSV buddies.... I also read osme countries HSV genitally is more common than HSV1 orally. Also, they have identified strains of HSV as old as 60k years.  Asian strands, African Strands...

Its too common.

Hope I helped someone get through a tough day with herpes....

Mike