The world of dating is difficult enough as it is, let alone when you have a sexual health problem. People who have incurable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can find dating, particularly online dating, a really daunting process. Could specific websites for people with STIs be the way forward for people who are struggling in this way?
Niche dating websites are on the increase, grouping people by religion, interests and so on, but one particularly emerging area is that of dating websites specifically for those who have STIs.
Those with long term STIs can protect their wellness and wellbeing by joining such a site, where their condition is out in the open right from the start, rather than having to torture themselves worrying about when to disclose their STI status to the people that they meet online. Often, the fear of rejection (and the pain of the inevitable rejections) can lead to people becoming very closed off and struggling with life.
Incurable STIs include HPV (genital warts) and herpes are amongst the most common types of diseases found on the sites (such as H-Ype or H-Date) and the websites often have taglines too such as ‘Plenty of Positive Fish’ in a bid to reassure their clients that dating can be a happier and more carefree activity, even when you have a disease.
Other sites such as Positive Singles have around 30,000 members, and profiles allow users to search for others with various different criteria including searching by type of STI. The variety of STIs on the site spans almost every type of disease known.
When signing up to these sites, the one important rule is that you disclose which type of infection you are carrying. This makes for transparency from the start. In a world where sexually transmitted infections are on the increase, sites like these allow people to meet others in similar situations, and look past the disease to the true love that could lie behind it.
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