Its up to you to decide the right time to tell a date that you have genital herpes. Follow two rules: First, dont wait until after having sex. Second, dont wait until youre just about to have sex -- in which case the attraction may be too strong for either of you to think rationally and act responsibly.

How do you protect yourself from dating someone with herpes?

Always use condoms and dental dams during oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Talk with your partner about taking herpes medicine every day, which can lower their chances of spreading herpes. Dont have sex during a herpes outbreak, even with a condom. There may be sores on places the condom doesnt cover.

What is life like with herpes?

People who get genital herpes can and do lead perfectly normal lives. A primary infection can be severe and involve generalised flu-like symptoms. This, combined with the pain and discomfort of the sores and, in some cases, secondary infection, can leave people feeling very run-down.

What is the lifespan of a person with herpes?

Becoming infected with the herpes virus seriously complicates your social, emotional and sexual life, but it is not otherwise a terribly dangerous condition to have. Having genital herpes does make it easier to get HIV (and thus AIDS), but otherwise, the condition is not disabling, and does not reduce lifespan.