Wanted to vent because I don't have anyone to talk to about this. I got diagnosed with herpes on my dick. It isn't that bad, just a few pimples and tingling. I don't know anyone with this or really heard about it before now.
I have only been with 4 girls ever, all were exclusive and longer term. I'm not sleeping around with everyone. My latest STI screen was negative, but they don't even test for herpes. I've been with my current gf for 5 months. She said she also had a clean STI screen. We decided to have sex without a condom after a few months.
I noticed a pimple, didn't think too much, then after it spread went to a Dr. who said it was herpes and gave me antivirals. Gf didn't seem too concerned, although a bit distraught that she may have gotten it from me. Obviously we stopped having sex and I started feeling rough worrying if I gave it to her and had gotten it in the past (probably oral to genital) (or Gf may have been asymptomatic and given it to me). I guess it doesn't really matter how I got it. I just hope I didn't cause her to get it if she didn't already.
Being on this subreddit has made it harder to deal with. I feel there is such a stigma I hadn't even thought about before. Obviously I want things to work out with her, but if it didn't I have this fear of how hard it could be to date with this added complication.
I'm not trying to be a pity party or anything. Sometimes life ain't fair and even if you are only in LTRs and both clean on paper this can happen. And I imagine less and less people will care as I get older. Just part of me now.