I refuse to feel ashamed of my genital herpes diagnosis

Key Points:

• Melys Edwards, diagnosed with genital herpes in her early 20s, experienced severe physical pain and emotional distress, including shame and relationship difficulties, highlighting the psychological impact of the condition.
• Official data from England shows a 3% increase in new genital herpes cases in 2025, with nearly 29,000 diagnoses, while Wales recorded fewer cases but cautioned about incomplete data.
• Experts emphasize that genital herpes is a common, manageable condition often misunderstood due to stigma and lack of public knowledge, with many people unaware they carry the virus due to mild or no symptoms.
• Testing and diagnosis are challenging due to limited access to clinics and the short window for accurate testing, leading to potential under-reporting of cases.
• Melys now advocates for openness about genital herpes to reduce stigma and support others, despite facing online abuse, while health officials in Wales are working to improve sexual health services and prevention efforts.