Life with an STD: Navigating Herpes Diagnosis, Dating, and Developing Inner Confidence w/Belize Spivey

EPISODE OVERVIEW: I sit down with my guest to talk about what it’s like living with an incurable STD, and how to thrive with it.  While we don’t hear about STD’s as much anymore, just because we don’t hear about them, doesn’t mean that they’ve gone away or the numbers are improving.  In fact, they’re increasing.Syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea have surged for the fifth year, according to the newly released statistics on STDs from the CDC.Also, according to the CDC, more than one in six people have genital herpes (caused by HSV-2). And per Johns Hopkins Medicine, between 50 to 80 percent of people have oral herpes (caused by HSV-1, which can lead to genital herpes through oral sex).In this episode we talk about:How Belize discovered she had herpesWhat is herpes, and what are the symptoms associated with themWays to contract genital and oral herpesTypes of medications used to treat herpesTriggers for outbreaksHow to regain your confidence after diagnosisHow to have the conversation about your status with prospective partnerWhether or not everyone has herpesAnd, much more!ABOUT THE GUEST: Today’s guest, STD life coach, Belize Spivey, has been living with herpes for more than 11 years, and shares her story of contracting herpes, what it taught her, and how to navigate the dating scene with herpes.  Through her coaching business, support group of more than 1,700 women living and thriving with herpes, and her own products - Belize teaches individuals living with herpes how to navigate through their Herpes diagnosis, and to develop inner confidence after.How you can connect with Belize:WebsiteInstagramYouTubeRESOURCES MENTIONED:Facebook GroupHerpes Could NeverHerpAlertEssence Magazine Article: The Truth About Dating with Herpes JOIN THE SISTA CIRCLE COMMUNITYSubscribe to The Sista Circle Podcast:Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherFollow The Sista Circle Podcast:IG: @thesistacirclepodcastFacebook: @thesistacirclepodcastYouTube: The Sista Circle Podcast  Subscribe to The Sista Circle Podcast Mailing List: Here Buy Me a Coffee (Support the Show): Here Support the show