Readers, listeners, and viewers have been pouring in questions, and we are here for it! Today, we had the pleasure of answering one of your anonymous questions from Tumblr about herpes transmission risk!

Anon asks: “I just found out I was exposed to HSV2 about three months ago. I just started a new relationship a week ago and am terrified that I might have it and passed it on to my new girlfriend. We have had unprotected sex one time. What are the odds of her getting it?”

In an effort to cater to short attention-spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 5 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes, they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. Consequently, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs about 11 minutes in length, and we’re answering a reader’s questions about herpes transmission risk, possible exposure to herpes from a past partner, antibody vs viral testing for herpes, and the risk of transmitting to a new partner.

Next time, I’ll be answering reader’s questions, talking about living with herpes, and the new herpes activists network. Stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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The post Your Herpes Exposure and Herpes Transmission Risk – STD Podcast appeared first on The STI Project.

Anonymous asks about a herpes diagnosis:

“Jenelle, how does someone accept having an incurable infection like this? It has been about a month since I have known, and I have been nothing but depressed. I have barely been able to get out of bed most days, and I have quiet often thought about suicide.

I just want my old life back. I feel like I can’t tell anyone about this, and I don’t know how I will be able to find someone who is accepting of this condition. I always assumed I would get married and have kids, and this just puts such a roadblock in front of all of that, and I am worried I will never have another relationship or sex ever again.

I am going through my second outbreak, and I am just concerned I will always have this reoccur, though I have read some people stop getting outbreaks after a while. I just want to go back to enjoying life how I was, but I am not sure how to get there. I feel like I had my life setup so well to be pretty happy and carefree, and I ruined it by making one stupid decision.”

In an effort to cater to short attention-spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 5 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes, they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. Consequently, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs about 19 minutes in length, and we’re talking about a herpes diagnosis. Jenelle answers an anonymous reader’s questions after having been just diagnosed with herpes.

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast:

Next time, I’ll be answering a reader’s questions about HSV2 exposure, risk of HSV transmission, and HSV testing. Stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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Before you get your undies in a wad, we know that everyone hasn’t had an STD, but because the vast majority of all sexually active people have, we feel like it might as well be everyone.

That’s what we’re talking about today – why the majority of all sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. And since that’s only one of 30+ STIs or STDs, it’s highly likely that most everyone you know will have an STD. So, you’re not alone with your STI, if you have one now or if you have a long-term infection. It’s just that no one talks about it, so you feel alone.

In an effort to cater to short attention-spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 5 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes, they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. Consequently, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs just under 12 minutes in length, and we’re talking about HPV statistics and the likelihood that everyone you know currently has or has had an STD at some point in their lives.

Next time, I’ll be answering some reader submitted questions. Stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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We’re back for another installment of the STD podcast, hosted by The STI Project’s STD+ Founder, Jenelle Marie Pierce. Today, we’re talking about disclosing HSV (or any other STD) and whether or not you should tell people that you have an STD.

Since we’re only in week 2 of reintroducing the podcast, after a few years on hiatus, we’re still working out some audio kinks, so bear with us as we hone our craft.

In the meantime, we’re so happy you could join us for a few minutes out of your busy day to listen as we answer your frequently asked questions about STDs and living with an STI/STD. If you have a suggestion for a future podcast, don’t hesitate to reach out. Very little offends us, and nothing is too dicey for our audio, so send us in your questions.

In an effort to cater to short attention-spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 5 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes, they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. Consequently, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs about 12 minutes in length, and we’re talking about disclosing HSV – to the whole world, to just your friends or family, and to partners. Check out the links below to see what we have to say about telling people about having an STD.

Next time, I’ll be talking about how everyone you know has an STD and why it’s no big deal. Subscribe to stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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Welcome back to The STI Project’s STD Podcast! Do you remember our podcast from a few years ago? Probably not. I don’t really either. It’s been a long time. So let’s start again by talking about Herpes No Condom or Sex without a Condom…

Are you excited? We are.

This is a question we receive all of the time. Literally, all of the time. And I get it. You’re worried now that you have a long-term STI that you have to wear condoms for the rest of your life. That’s such a miserable idea – not condoms – but that once you contract an infection, which is pretty much inevitable anyways, you have to be sequestered to a certain type of protected sex forever and ever amen. Well, let us be the first to tell you, that’s not necessarily necessary.

In an effort to cater to short attention-spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 5 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes, they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. Consequently, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs about 12 minutes in length, and we’re talking about herpes no condoms or sex without condoms, whether or not you have herpes or another type of sexually transmitted infection and disease. Wondering if you have to wear condoms for the rest of your life? That idea is not horrible, in and of itself, but we clarify, rather quickly, that that’s not actually necessary if you have an STD.

You’re welcome.

Next time, I’ll be talking about if you have to tell people you have an STD. Stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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I am pleased as punch to bring you today’s special guest, Kirsty Spraggon from KirstyTV.com! Kirsty graciously offered to be interviewed for a podcast, after having recently ‘come out’ publicly about living with herpes to her viewers, all of YouTube, and a rapt TEDx audience.

Kirsty is both eloquent and inspirational, and I think you will thoroughly appreciate the fresh perspective she shares with me via our Happy Hump Day Podcast.

In an effort to cater to short attention-spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 5 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes, they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. Consequently, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs about 20 minutes in length, and we’re talking with Kirsty Spraggon about sharing her story publicly, what it’s been like to live with herpes, and how, for many years, it defined her relationships and made her psychologically sick.

She’ll be the first to tell you, though, that you are only as sick as your secrets.

Kirsty Spraggon shares ‘her pretty little secret’ – coming out that she has herpes for the first time ever .

Kirsty Spraggon’s  I Have Herpes TEDx Malibu talk – “You’re Only as Sick as Your Secrets”

Next time, I’ll be talking about sexual health, sexual responsibility, what those two terms mean, and how they work together to improve your sexual health. Stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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Well, not really, but we think it should be!

During STD Awareness Month, this past April, we began doing research on all of the myths surrounding STDs. What we originally thought would last through the month has blossomed into a much larger series, because there were so many misconceptions out there, we didn’t want to exclude any of them.

As such, we’ve decided to continue our myth busting series, even though it’s no longer STD Awareness Month ‘officially’. We’ve dubbed it: ‘So True, So False!’, because we think we’re as cool as E!, of course, and, because promoting awareness, education, and acceptance doesn’t always have to be super-serious.

Really, though, these myths often perpetuate big problems: they keep people from getting tested, talking to partners, practicing safer sex, and all around being conscientious about their sexual health. So, this is kinda serious stuff too!

Today, we’re tackling a handful of myths – podcast style. Lucky you.

In an effort to cater to short attention-spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 5 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes, they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. Consequently, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs about 9 minutes in length and we’re talking about beliefs that are so true as well as those that are so false.

Next time, I’ll be talking about sexual health, sexual responsibility, what those two terms mean, and how they work together to improve your sexual health. Stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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The post Safer Sex Myths – STD Prevention – Happy Hump Day Podcasts appeared first on The STI Project.

Spicy is how we like it, and today’s podcast is certainly muy caliente! – and/or a little questionable. I have to admit, though, we enjoy pushing the envelope a tad. So, take a listen, tell us what you think and how our message has impacted the way you talk about STDs.

In an effort to cater to short attention spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 5 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. Consequently, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs about 9 minutes in length and we’re talking about STDs, of course, and how we refer to those who have them.

Are some people right when they say a push to change our vocabulary in the STD realm is politically correctness gone mad?

Next time, I’ll be talking about STD myths, some of the funniest misconceptions I hear most often, and why they spread, despite our best educational efforts. Stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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The post Talking About STDs – ‘PC’ Vocabulary? Happy Hump Day Podcasts appeared first on The STI Project.

Hiya, folks! We’ve got an interesting podcast in store for you today – I think it’s bound to inspire, and it further outlines the foundation of The STI Project and why we talk about STDs all of the time – out loud! See what you think…

In an effort to cater to short attention spans (mainly, my own), we keep these podcasts between 10 and 15 minutes in length. When we have guests on the show, sometimes they’re a little bit longer, but we know you’re busy. So, we promise to always do our very best to be as concise as possible.

Today’s podcast runs about 12 minutes in length – back to our typical length, because we’re not interviewing a guest. This podcast expands upon a recent podcast we did about why we began talking about living with an STI/STD. In this podcast, we talk about why it’s psychologically healing and, ultimately, very freeing to talk about STDs – whether it be privately, anonymously, or as I do for the whole world to hear.

For further reading about healing through storytelling, read ‘When Patients Share Their Stories, Health Improves‘ and ‘The Healing Power of Storytelling.’

Next time, I’ll be talking about our new STD testing partnership and why we’ve narrowed our recommendation to one testing provider in particular. Stay tuned!

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What did you think of today’s podcast? Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Or would you like to take part in an upcoming podcast interview/conversation via Skype or in person? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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The post Why Talking About STDs is Healing – Happy Hump Day Podcasts appeared first on The STI Project.

As promised, today, we’re interviewing Lindsey Wahowiak author of our most recent STD Interview as well as the xoJane post titled, ‘The Year of Two STDs or Why My Vagina Has Been on Hiatus.’ Not only was it an absolute delight having Lindsey on the show, she’s agreed to come back and chat with us again […]

The post HPV & HSV1 – The Year of 2 STDs – Interviewing the Author – Happy Hump Day Podcasts appeared first on The STI Project.