My guess is that you have hsv2, though this is only a guess. The main difference between the types is that hsv1 tends to be less frequent and less severe - most people with hsv1 get outbreaks every few months to every few years, and they go away fairly easily with treatment, usually in a few days. To contrast, people with hsv2 often have monthly outbreaks (for many women, right when they star their period) that are difficult to control. It is vastly more likely for someone to take a daily anti-viral if they have hsv2, and so given that and what you've mentioned about your periods, I'm guessing that's what you have.
Hsv2 is a more serious impediment to a healthy sex life than hsv1 is, but it is by no means the end of the world. You will still find people who will want to have sex with you (and yes, you absolutely can still have sex)! It's nervewracking to tell someone something like this and face rejection, but people get rejected every day for worse reasons and you can be strong enough to move past it if it happens. Someone else gave you very good advice when they suggested you have a quiet talk with someone you like a lot wherein you present it as an issue but not the worst thing in the world, and where you come to the table armed with information and strategies.
Yes, you are less likely to get casual sex, but short of that most people who find themselves really interested in you will be willing to take the risk so long as you both do what you can to reduce that risk. My guess is that disclosure of hsv2 would probably cause rejection of casual sex by maybe as many as 50% of potential partners, but for someone who is interested in pursuing you as a real relationship, my guess is that the rejection figure is probably more like 5-10%. Love and communication are stronger than a stupid virus.
I know this comment maybe isn't the most carefree, but I think I'm giving you a fairly accurate representation of what potential rejection you might face based on my own friends and lovers who have talked to me about how they choose whether or not to reject someone based on STI-status.
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Hsv2 is a more serious impediment to a healthy sex life than hsv1 is, but it is by no means the end of the world. You will still find people who will want to have sex with you (and yes, you absolutely can still have sex)! It's nervewracking to tell someone something like this and face rejection, but people get rejected every day for worse reasons and you can be strong enough to move past it if it happens. Someone else gave you very good advice when they suggested you have a quiet talk with someone you like a lot wherein you present it as an issue but not the worst thing in the world, and where you come to the table armed with information and strategies.
Yes, you are less likely to get casual sex, but short of that most people who find themselves really interested in you will be willing to take the risk so long as you both do what you can to reduce that risk. My guess is that disclosure of hsv2 would probably cause rejection of casual sex by maybe as many as 50% of potential partners, but for someone who is interested in pursuing you as a real relationship, my guess is that the rejection figure is probably more like 5-10%. Love and communication are stronger than a stupid virus.
I know this comment maybe isn't the most carefree, but I think I'm giving you a fairly accurate representation of what potential rejection you might face based on my own friends and lovers who have talked to me about how they choose whether or not to reject someone based on STI-status.