Personal Perspectives
I contracted herpes when I was in college more than 30 years ago. The first outbreak was very, very painful and complicated by the fact that I had no medical insurance or healthcare provider. It was scary, and I had nowhere to turn. Finally I went to an STD clinic where I was diagnosed. 
I had outbreaks fairly frequently, probably three to six times a year for the next decade or so. (This was before acyclovir was available). I married and had two children (vaginal births). Unfortunately, I met and married my husband shortly after being diagnosed. I didn't have much information about the infection at that time, wasn't experienced at recognizing symptoms of an impending outbreak, and he got it from me.
After 15 years of marriage, we divorced. Since then I've had numerous sexual relationships. I've always told my potential partners before we became sexually involved. I'm always a little anxious about telling, but no one has ever declined or had a bad reaction. Also, since I'm more experienced with recognizing symptoms, no one has ever, to my knowledge, contracted the virus from me.
Acyclovir has been a huge improvement for me. I still get outbreaks fairly frequently—two to four times a year—but generally I can preempt them by taking medication at the first tingle. To me, it's a mild annoyance. It really doesn't deserve the hysteria that some people have about it—it’s just a cold sore below the belt.
