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In her early twenties, Melys Edwards frequently wore sunglasses, not to shield her eyes from the sun, but because she felt ashamed and wanted to hide from others. Now 29, she recalls feeling a strong desire to remain unseen after receiving a genital herpes diagnosis. Health professionals highlight that the emotional toll of being diagnosed with genital herpes—a condition that can be managed but not cured—often surpasses the physical symptoms experienced by patients.
Recent official data indicates a rise in genital herpes cases in England, with nearly 29,000 new diagnoses recorded in 2025, marking a 3% increase from the previous year. In Wales, Public Health Wales documented 913 first-time diagnoses in 2025, a decrease from 1,321 the year before; however, these figures may not fully represent the reality due to incomplete reporting from certain health boards. Melys, from Wrexham, experienced intense physical pain during her initial outbreak and suspects she contracted the virus from a sexual partner who knew of their herpes status but did not disclose it. Her diagnosis brought about a mixture of grief, anger, and denial, leaving her feeling disconnected from herself and uncertain about her own decisions.
Despite facing online harassment and misogynistic remarks blaming her for contracting the virus, Melys believes that speaking openly about her experience is important. She notes, “Hardly anyone speaks about having herpes,” emphasizing the lack of accessible, supportive information available when she was first diagnosed. Her willingness to share her story is driven by a desire to provide the kind of support she needed during her own struggle. Similarly, Marian Nicholson, director of the Herpes Viruses Association and someone who has lived with herpes for over 30 years, notes that public perception has not caught up with medical knowledge. She points to longstanding stigma rooted in public health messaging from the 1980s, which wrongly frames herpes as a punishment. Nicholson clarifies that the herpes simplex virus can cause both cold sores and genital herpes, with oral sex being a common mode of transmission. She stresses that for most people, genital herpes is a manageable skin condition, and many either have no symptoms or can control outbreaks with medication and lifestyle adjustments.
Dr. Olwen Williams, chair of the HIV charity Fast Track Cymru and former sexual health consultant, explained that people with genital herpes can maintain sexual relationships but are advised to abstain during active episodes due to discomfort and the risk of transmission through viral shedding. Current statistics likely underestimate the actual number of herpes cases, as many people do not get tested and home testing options in Wales do not cover genital herpes. Williams mentioned that the timing of testing is crucial for accuracy, with swab tests most effective within 48 hours of symptoms appearing. She also highlighted challenges in accessing sexual health clinics, citing no recent expansion in clinic capacity despite rising demand. The Welsh government acknowledged the importance of preventing ill health and affirmed ongoing efforts to assess the population’s needs in STI prevention, testing, and treatment to enhance sexual health services across Wales
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