Emily's Story
All names have been changed, to respect their privacy.
Laura's Story
All names have been changed, to respect their privacy.
I KNEW they’d become of good use one day!! It’s their time to shine! These are from when I was 17 years old and document my first ever outbreak, and how it developed over the course of 5 days. It’s important to note that I’ve never had an outbreak like this since. They say that the first one is always the worst, and that’s definitely been true for me. All I’ve had since are some very small clusters of tiny blisters that are gone within a few days, and don’t really stop me going about my day. The outbreaks have become much less intense and frequent the older I’ve become.
On this occasion, 15 years ago, I had sex without a condom for the first time in my life. A few days later my vulva started becoming quite itchy and super painful. What followed was the eruption of painful blisters which gradually spread around the bottom of my outer labia. They were so painful I had to take a week off of college. During this time I sat in salt water baths, and had to urinate in the bath too. I lay on my bed with no bottoms on with my legs spread apart so that nothing was touching the blisters. Once I realised they were only getting worse, I eventually got antibiotics for them, and they cleared up quite quickly after taking the course.
I was very underprepared at the time and knew nothing about the herpes virus. If I had an outbreak for the first time now, I’d be a lot better prepared as I know so much more. At the time I felt so much shame that I’d contracted herpes. Only in the last couple of years have I gotten better at being more open about having the virus, as well as educating myself and others about it.
I have had 3-4 outbreaks since my diagnosis, and they tend to happen when I’m in a period of stress. When they happen, I find that wearing loose pants, drinking loads of water, keeping the area clean, and looking after myself and my body as best as I can is helpful. They always clear up within a few days. I hope this doesn’t scare people, but helps someone feel slightly more educated on what a first herpes breakout can look like (I’m sure they don’t all look as vicious as this though!!)
On this occasion, 15 years ago, I had sex without a condom for the first time in my life. A few days later my vulva started becoming quite itchy and super painful. What followed was the eruption of painful blisters which gradually spread around the bottom of my outer labia. They were so painful I had to take a week off of college. During this time I sat in salt water baths, and had to urinate in the bath too. I lay on my bed with no bottoms on with my legs spread apart so that nothing was touching the blisters. Once I realised they were only getting worse, I eventually got antibiotics for them, and they cleared up quite quickly after taking the course.
I was very underprepared at the time and knew nothing about the herpes virus. If I had an outbreak for the first time now, I’d be a lot better prepared as I know so much more. At the time I felt so much shame that I’d contracted herpes. Only in the last couple of years have I gotten better at being more open about having the virus, as well as educating myself and others about it.
I have had 3-4 outbreaks since my diagnosis, and they tend to happen when I’m in a period of stress. When they happen, I find that wearing loose pants, drinking loads of water, keeping the area clean, and looking after myself and my body as best as I can is helpful. They always clear up within a few days. I hope this doesn’t scare people, but helps someone feel slightly more educated on what a first herpes breakout can look like (I’m sure they don’t all look as vicious as this though!!)
