×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Home To Bold Columnists
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Living with herpes: Navigating relationships and mental health

Unhappy Couple after an argument at their home. [Getty Images]

In today's dating scene, intimacy often comes with unforeseen risks. For many, discovering they have herpes can be a pivotal moment one that challenges perceptions, tests relationships, and prompts difficult conversations about health, trust, and stigma.

Joyce*, a 24-year-old university student, experienced this firsthand when she woke up one day with a swollen lip that persisted.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in
By AFP 7 hrs ago
Football
RB Leipzig appoint first woman CEO in German football
By AFP 7 hrs ago
Football
Egypt switches off Liverpool after Salah fallout
By AFP 7 hrs ago
Premier League
Gerrard urges Salah to stay at Liverpool and 'reverse away' from outburst
Golf
How support catapulted Kibugu, Wafula to prestigious Sunshine Tour series