I have news for you--it's not only the U.S. where it's happening in such high percentages.

Razor... if you'd like, you can point your friend to this post and have her email me. I'd be happy to talk to her (email) and tell her whatever I can - from a girl's point of view. We've all been where she is, of course. Over my 15 years, I've had bouts of serious suicidal depressions, but I've overcome them. If she has any interest, I'd talk to her and tell her whatever I can. Anyway, either way, it's cool. Just offering an option if she wants it.

I can understand your anger with your friends boyfriend. Also, I can relate to the pain that she is feeling. I felt very devastated when I found out that I had herpes also. However, killing him or suing him or whatever means to take your anger out on him will not change what has happened to her.

I have had the virus for about 10 years now. I got it the very first time I had sex. I was scared, worried, I figured I was the only one. I didn't think that I would ever have sex again. It is now a minor nuisance in my life. Then it wasn't though. The very hardest and most devasting part of having it was telling someone that you want to be with that you have it and being rejected. I urge everyone, infected or not, to educate themselves with the facts by doing research. I have come to terms with it now.

I have been more open with friends about it. I am educated to know that it is, of course, not something anyone wants to have, but it is also not something to be ashamed of. Herpes doesn't discriminate just like every other STD. I have found out by being open about it that 3 people that I know have it too. They actually never spoke to anyone about it and were able to confide in me. By using my bad experience to educate my friends, I hope to prevent them from contracting it. Still, many other friends that I try to tell continue to have unprotected sex with multiple partners. I hope for their sake that they don't have to contract something to learn to be smarter about their health. And if anyone who does know I have it wants to judge me, they need to realize that it can happen to them just as easily and it doesn't change ME!

I know it is now devastating for your friend. But, one day I hope that she will see that it is not the end of the world even though it feels awful now. She will have a happy relationship with someone and, YES, she will be able to tell them about HERPES and they will love her and she will have a normal sex life and she will have children, etc., etc. I am living proof of this.

I too recently contracted herpes from a now ex-boyfriend. Since then I've tried to commit suicide eight times. My life has taken a turn for the worst since then. I've lost my job, apartment, desire to communicate with others and much more. I already have a tumor and suffer from Depression before, this happened but now everything is much worse. I too was in a relationship with someone who didn't tell me he had herpes even after I asked him if he had anything. We were living together when I started having the pain and even then he said nothing. It was until the doctor in the ER told me that I tested positive for HSV when he said he had it for eight years. I too am trying to get a lawyer to sue him for reckless endangerment. If your friend finds one pls. send me a message of his name so that I may call him or her. As far as the deep Depression well I don't know what might help that being as it may I'm still there now. Just let your friend now she's not alone. I too am where she is.

Teddybear

razor I dont think that removing people's freedom of choice is ever a solution. I see your point but I think that really people need to be honest with others and protect themselves. I think it is wrong to sleep with people without insisting they have a checkup and show you the results and then moan if you get an std. Everyone knows the risks or are aware of the dangers. Obviously lying and not disclosing the fact that you have a 'little resident guest' to someone you are having sex with is wrong, completely wrong, but at the end of the day we are all responsible for ourselves and our own actions. No point crying over spilt milk and all that... I hope your friend is out of the darkness now and is happy and getting on with her life.