Let’s face it, dating can be one or the other, a daunting task or the time of your life! Maybe, you’re newly single and can’t wait to get back out there and see who you have been missing out on. Or maybe you have been single for years and you’re totally over it. Regardless of how you feel or where you start from it’s the same song and dance. You meet someone, plan on a date or time, meet up, have fun and then wonder if you’ll go out with them again.

Sound familiar?

Ok, so now let’s add having herpes and herpes dating to the picture. You might be thinking, when does this little conversation that’s a huge deal happen. Does it happen before, during or after the date? This uneasiness alone can stop people from dating. Let’s face it, dating can be scary and now adding herpes to the mix has just added a whole new element.

In case herpes is new to you or you’re not familiar with herpes let’s break it down. Herpes Simplex Virus or also known as HSV is a virus that causes painful blisters in the genital and or oral region. Once a person is infected with the virus they will have it for life and these pesky herpes lesions can pop up and cause what’s called a herpes outbreak. This can be good news or bad news depending on how you look at it but there are a lot of people with herpes who are asymptomatic. This means they don’t show signs or symptoms of the virus but are still positive for the herpes virus and can still transmit the virus and infect a partner.

There are two types of herpes, HSV 1 and HSV 2 and regardless of which one you have they both cause blisters that look pretty similar and you wouldn’t be able to tell which ones which without a proper diagnosis. In general, HSV 1 typically prefers the oral region and HSV 2 usually prefers the genital region. However, the virus will go wherever you give it a place to go and recently there’s been an increase in people being diagnosed with HSV 1 genitally.

One thing I bet you didn’t know was how common herpes really is. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 3.7 billion people under age 50 (67%) have HSV-1 infection globally. And an estimated 417 million people aged 15-49 (11%) worldwide have HSV-2 infection globally.

The CDC, center for disease control says that 2/3 people have HSV-1 and 1/6 have HSV-2 in the US. Regardless of looking at this globally, nationally or locally there’s a ton of people with herpes. You’re so not alone!

If so many people have herpes then why is it so hard to date?

It’s simple. It’s the stigma attached to having herpes makes the perception of dating with herpes so difficult. One of the main reasons why people who are diagnosed with herpes don’t date is because having to have that conversation can feel like the most daunting thing ever. An anonymous member said, “I don’t know how I’ll ever get the courage to tell someone I’m dating about my herpes diagnosis. I’ll never date again.” This herpes stigma has made the population living with herpes so scared of the rejection and the judgment of having herpes that it stops them from dating. Very sad but true.

Ok so here’s some fun information on HSV dating. For people living with herpes here are the top 10 states in the US you’d want to live in to find other people with herpes. They are (drum roll...) California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, Washington, and Michigan. Do you live in one of the other forty stats that were not listed? Don’t worry...there’s still some great news.

Here’s the good news. There are online dating sites for people living with herpes and there’s been a number of successful matches. Online dating is such a great solution for today’s social settings. The thought of bumping into someone while in line for a cup of coffee sounds rare and let’s face it. It is.

Positive Singles is the number 1 online dating site for people living with herpes and other STD’s. The best thing is that it’s a confidential way to guide you back into the dating scene. This can be after learning about your diagnosis or maybe you’ve had herpes for years, regardless it’s a fun and safe space. Remember earlier when we talked about how people don’t date because of having herpes and because they’re scared to have the conversation with their partner about having herpes? Well, Positive Singles has taken care of everything for you. Having the scary or awkward conversation about STD’s and herpes on your first date is no longer an issue.

Ther’s a lot of people living with herpes and using the Positive Singles online dating site. Here are some great statistics, 84.1% of Positive Singles members with herpes are from the US and 61.1% of the herpes members have HSV-2 and 38.9% have HSV-1. And if you live in California then you’re in luck, there are the most people with herpes using the Positive Singles dating site, there’s 11.1% of you to be exact.

Whether you live in 1 of the 10 states that were listed above or one of the fort other states this is also great news for you. What this means is there’s a ton of people in the US living with herpes and there’s out there looking for someone to meet, date, and possibly fall in love.

These people are not letting their herpes diagnosis hold them back from life but rather they are taking grasp of it and looking at Positive Singles as a way to meet people.

Having an STD should never hold you back from dating and finding love.

Many people who have herpes are familiar with the singer Usher and his battle and lawsuits. He, on more than one occasion, infected various women with the herpes virus and has paid out millions in restitution to the same.

According to studies from the National Institute of Health, the largest population of people in the United States with the herpes virus are non-Hispanic blacks. There are, by the study, several factors taking this fact into account including lack of healthcare, failure to complete a high school education and geographical location, specifically the Midwest and South.

Herpes prevalence within the black community can be a serious cause for concern because of the lack of proper diagnosis. There are reports of people who do not show signs and symptoms being carriers of the virus. There is only one absolute way to be sure, and that is with a physician-ordered blood test.

Now, before you go out and get tested because you may have been infected, realize a few things that are very important:

• The chances of you getting herpes is very low;
• Herpes does not define who you are;
• There are plenty of other people, black people, who have herpes;
• You can still find someone special.

While the probability of herpes is higher among the black population, this does not mean you cannot find an appropriate someone to date and possibly find a true relationship. PositiveSingles.com is the world’s largest online dating site for people with STD, including herpes. There are people from all walks of life, all races, both genders and all sexual preferences.

If you are not certain about a possible infection in yourself or your partner, there are still things that you need to do:

• Be honest with yourself and partner;
• Be educated about herpes;
• Research herpes in the black population;
• Talk to your doctor;
• Take medications if prescribed;
• Continue to enjoy your life.

Being black with herpes is not a death sentence by any means. You can still live a full and happy life and find someone to share it. Become a member at PositiveSingles.com.

Dating is difficult enough, but when you suffer from an STD like herpes, the dating scene becomes not only more difficult but means a much shallower pool to select from.

Most people who have genital herpes are very upfront and honest about the fact with their potential partners. Granted, there are some who will judge because of the disease, but there is one very important fact to remember:

You are not the disease. You are a person, first and foremost.

Sadly, people will get caught up in this fact and treat you like a second class citizen. Consider: Is this person who is judging you based on a disease really worth your time, effort and attraction? It is something that needs to be taken into mind when you are looking to find that perfect someone.

This is why it is so much easier to use a dating site like PositiveSingles.com to find a potential partner. This dating site is specifically designed around people with STDs like herpes. The site features more than simply a chance to meet. There are forums, support groups, referrals to physicians and other information designed as a hand up for you and anyone else.

People who choose to use PositiveSingles.com for their dating options often find they are not as unique as originally considered. There are plenty of positive reports and stories of people finding a solid, loving and intimate relationship not only within a short distance but also in their very hometown. These findings make those with herpes feel better about themselves and their potential partners.

The other pleasant thing about PositiveSingles.com dating options is there is the chance of rejection is much lower. The dating pool you are in shares in the disease diagnosis and are aware that you have the same disease as they do. There are no awkward moments, times of tough talk or chance of losing what may have been a wonderful, loving relationship that could lead to a lifetime of happiness.

If you have genital herpes or have been exposed to someone with genital herpes, it is not the end of your dating life. It only means you may have a small amount of additional difficulty in finding someone special. Fortunately, PositiveSingles.com is there for you.

When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), herpes is the one that is perhaps the vaguest in terms of getting a handle on the number of people who are infected. There are two main types of herpes – HPV 1 and HPV 2 – with both the mouth and genitals affected by sores with these recurring diseases. It’s a disease which will stay with you for life once you get it, but there are periods where it will lay dormant followed by outbreak periods, some of which can be severe. The good news is that having herpes does not mean the end of dating or your sex life, especially with herpes dating sites now available online to help people connect.

If you live in New York and want to become part of the herpes dating scene, there are several different options available to you. For the purposes of this piece, we are going to focus on a pair of websites where you can meet people with herpes. Let’s take a closer look at these herpes dating sites to see what they have to offer.

Positive Singles – This site has been around since 2001 and now boasts more than 1.5 million members, which means that you should have no problem tracking down other people in New York with similar interests. More than just a dating site, though, PositiveSingles also focuses on the health and wellness side of things, offering several great resources for their members who are suffering from herpes and other STD’s. Besides the usual things that you would expect to find on an online dating site, Positive Singles also offers a Live Dating Advisor, Treatment Stories, and a Live Counselor, among other things.

This site is perfect for those looking for herpes dating without needing to go through the judgment and scorn that often comes via dating sites where STD’s are still considered to be taboo.

MPWH – If you are looking for other herpes singles, this might well be the place to go. MPWH as it is also called, is easy to sign up for and is where you will find other singles specifically dealing with herpes. While the membership count is a little smaller than what you get at PositiveSingles, the people who are here are specifically looking to meet people with herpes. A good many of those members are located in New York, so again, you are not going to have any problems making new friends or potentially finding “the one.”

As you can see, finding a herpes dating site is not as tough as you might have thought. There are a lot of people in New York and across the US dealing with herpes and looking for love. If you fall into that category, we suggest that you check out both of these websites, as that will increase your chances of finding someone that you connect with on a number of different levels. We are sure you will find plenty of potential matches using these sites.

With online dating and apps like Tinder now making it easier than ever before to find a willing sexual partner, we are now in a time where people are a lot more open about their preferences. Sex, and the kinks that sometimes come along with it, are not so stigmatized anymore, as we are in a bit of a sexual revolution that has been heralded in via the mobile age. As such, the average person is now more willing than ever to speak up about what they want, which for many means trying to use these websites and apps to find a threesome.

Now, if you have genital herpes or are interesting in engaging in threesome dating with someone who does, there are probably some questions that you will want answered before jumping into your new sexual adventure. The most common question here is whether you can actually engage in sex with someone who has genital herpes and not catch the disease yourself. The answer is that you can, although there are some definite steps that need to be followed so that the encounters are fun and safe for all involved.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1 in 6 people are currently infected with herpes, although not everyone will display symptoms that make them aware that they have an STD. For those that do, outbreaks of sores and blistering around the genitals will occur every now and again. Even when there are no such sores on display, it is still possible to pass on herpes to a partner, which is where you need to start following a clear pattern of behavior if you are going to be jumping into the HSV dating pool.

The first thing that you need to do when herpes dating, whether in a threesome or not, is to inform all sexual partners of your medical situation. Some will be put off entirely, while others may need a little more time to decide whether they want to become sexually active with you. If everyone in the threesome is on board with having someone with herpes as part of the group, that’s great, but it is also highly recommended that any males involved in the threesome wear a condom. This will go a long way towards ensuring that the disease is not spread during sexual intercourse.

If the threesome becomes an ongoing thing, you all may decide that unprotected sex is the way you want to go, although that should be a decision made together, with everyone in total agreement. Even when using protection, accidents can happen, which is why those involved in herpes dating need to be checked out regularly by a doctor, as this too can help prevent the spread of herpes. There are several reputable HSV dating sites online now, so you should have little problem finding a community of likeminded folks willing to take part in sexual activity. The open and honest nature of these sites make it the best place to start for those with herpes hoping to find a threesome.