Please consider my story:

I was officially diagnosed (ohsv1) about 2.5 years ago. Before that, I had very little knowledge of hsv although I had symptoms when I was much younger but never knew exactly what caused those "blisters". In fact, what I was told caused those blisters were so absurd that I wouldn't even repeat them.

I've always taken my sexual health very seriously and would take STD tests before becoming sexual active with a new partner or whenever I'm experiencing some unexplained illness. As such, the number of STD tests I've taken in my lifetime is more than 30 (no exaggeration); I'm 37. However, in all those years that tests were done, the labs NEVER tested for hsv. So AFAIK I was STD free. Then about 2.5yrs ago, I was under extreme stress and experienced an outbreak. Again, my knowledge about these blisters was that they were caused by some absurd occurrence. Then about one week after, my relative saw it (it had already developed scabs) and proceeded to inform me what it was. I did some research and confirmed, based on pics, with 99% certainty that it was hsv. I was distraught (gross understatement) and the pics I saw on the internet didn't either.

I fell into deep depression, not only due to having the virus but because of thinking about all the people that I may have infected as I've had it since I was a kid. Because of my severe depression I was not able to work and decided to go to the doc. To my surprise my doc seemed not to be concerned about the hsv and informed me that it was not a big deal and most people have it. I did feel better. Fast forward to 1.5 years after I received oral from my girlfriend of 5 years I developed symptoms on my glans penis. I again went by the doctor and was distraught to hear that I had hsv down there as well. This was very surprising too, because of reading somewhere that it was almost impossible to get infected on two locations after you've had it for a while. But then again, there are a lot of outdated hsv information out there that people and doctors still believe. After that doctor visit I have not gone a day without thinking about my situation; which causes undue psychological stress which is not good for preventing outbreaks. After being diagnosed and aware of my situation I have been trying to be a much better person, appreciating family, and friendships but still suffer from mild depression when thinking about having children. I sometimes look back and think about how different my life would be if I wasn't diagnosed or knew that I have hsv.

But I also have questions:

1. Why isn't the wider public made aware of this std and the psychological and physical stress that it causes?
2. Why do doctors tell patients it isn't necessary to disclose if you have ohsv?
3. Why wasn't I tested for hsv in the 30+ STD tests I had done in the past?
4. Why aren't the public made aware of the dangers of cold sores to prevent transmission to other parts of their bodies and their kissing/oral sex partners?
5. Why do we see non-sexually active kids with cold sores?
6. Why do we still say the hsv is just a 'skin condition' when its effects are much more?
7. Why do we question the hsv stigma when it is justly warranted due to its effects and implications?
8. Why don't we have a more effective drug or vaccine yet? Although I imagine if the above points were addressed many of us wouldn't be in this situation however at the detriment of current sufferers.

I am sorry for your situation and how you may have gotten infected, but for this public heath endemic to be addressed a systemic approach is required involving relevant governmental agencies, the medical fraternity and an understanding public.