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What does intimacy really look like when herpes is part of the relationship?

Whether you have it or you’re thinking about dating someone who does, this episode breaks it down with real stories and facts. In this episode of the Herpes Wellness Podcast, Cat Dupree shares what it was like to navigate intimacy in a long-term relationship with someone who had herpes (when she didn’t), and how she approaches intimacy now with a partner who doesn’t have herpes.

You’ll hear about the “symptom method” she once used, why antivirals are now her go-to, and how couples can decide together what feels right. Cat also covers how well barrier methods actually work, what studies show about transmission, and why being responsible for prevention is different from being responsible for your partner’s choice to be with you.

Whether you’re living with HSV2 or HSV1 and you just want to understand more about intimacy, transmission, and relationships — this episode gives you perspective, clarity, and practical steps you can use.

In this episode you’ll hear:

✔️ How Cat navigated intimacy with a partner who had herpes

✔️ What intimacy looks like now with her current partner who doesn’t have herpes

✔️ The “symptom method” vs. antivirals — and why her approach changed

✔️ How effective barrier methods, antivirals, and combination strategies are in reducing transmission

✔️ The realization that helped her move past the fear of passing herpes to a partner

If you’ve ever felt like your diagnosis means you’ll be alone forever, this episode will change the way you see yourself, dating, and relationships.

In this episode of the Herpes Wellness Podcast, Cat Dupree shares the exact mindset shifts that helped her go from believing love was impossible after herpes to being in a relationship with someone who chose her — herpes and all.

You’ll learn how limiting beliefs and stigma can shape your reality, why self-worth and confidence are key to dating with herpes, and how self-love is the foundation for attracting the right partner. Cat also shares her personal story of years of self-blame, the emotional toll of her diagnosis, and how shifting her perspective completely changed her love life.

Whether you’re living with HSV2 or HSV1 and looking for guidance on dating, confidence, and self-love after a diagnosis — this episode is packed with perspective, empowerment, and practical advice for finding real love again.

In this episode you’ll hear:

✔️ Why limiting beliefs keep you from finding love

✔️ How your mindset shapes your dating reality

✔️ The self-love practices that helped Cat rebuild her confidence

✔️ Why you determine your self worth

✔️ How every “no” can bring you closer to the right “yes”

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: All content provided by Herpes Wellness is intended for entertainment or educational purposes only. None of this content is intended to offer, or replace qualified medical or health related advice. Herpes Wellness accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any injury, loss, or damage in any shape or form incurred in part or in while, as a direct or indirect result of use or reliance upon the information and material presented here.

Herpes has a way of revealing more about the people around you than it does about you. In this episode, Cat Dupree shares why disclosure is the ultimate BS detector—and how the way someone reacts tells you exactly who they are. From friends and family to dating and relationships, this raw conversation flips the script and shows you why their response doesn’t define your worth—it shows you who deserves a place in your life.

✅ Why disclosure instantly reveals someone’s true character

✅ How herpes can filter out shallow connections and highlight the real ones

✅ What reactions to pay attention to—and what they actually mean

✅ Why ghosting or rejection says more about them than it does about you

✅ How to reframe disclosure so the power stays in your hands

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