Herpes Support Groups

Support groups provide information and allow participants to share experiences, fears, and feelings with others who are concerned about herpes.

If you’re looking for support, Feel free to join thousands of others who are part of ASHA’s STI support forum hosted through Inspire.com. online (free registration required). This forum allows users to post and interact with others but that’s not necessary to participate: You can simply choose to search the hundreds of discussions covering STI topics such as testing, treatment, transmission, and talking with partners. Note that the forum doesn’t offer direct medical advice or opinions regarding symptoms (we can offer referrals to a free clinic, though, no problem).

The groups listed here are not sponsored or endorsed by ASHA, and are entirely responsible for their activities and the content of their websites.

Online Support Communities

Honeycomb Support Forum
This is a discussion forum for people affected by herpes simplex virus (HSV) with more than 70,000 members where you can talk openly and honestly. If you’ve been feeling afraid, alone, isolated or confused prepare to feel a whole lot better. You are among friends here and our support crew can help you realize just how normal and common this skin condition is.

The STI Project Private Facebook Group
Support group helping people with HSV break through fear, shame, & stigma! If you feel overwhelmed about having herpes, or simply, you’re stuck wrestling with the immense stigma that comes with a herpes diagnosis, then you’re in the right place!

Herpes Home Page Support Forum
While not active currently, the forum has an extensive archive of posts about managing symptoms, relationship, and success stories of happiness after herpes.

United States

Below is a listing of local support groups in various states in the U.S. You can also search MeetUp.com for more herpes support groups and meetups in your area.

AZ
Prescott Herpes Support Group
Prescott, AZ
hsgprescott@gmail.com

CA
Bay Area Friends
San Francisco, CA
www.bayareafriends.org
Bay Area Friends Meetup

FL
Central Florida H2O Group
Orlando, FL
https://sites.google.com/site/centralflh20group/

IA
DSMHSV
Des Moines, IA
https://dsmhsv.com/

IN
Indy HELP
Indianapolis, IN
www.indyhelp.com

MI
Metro Detroit HELP
Detroit, MI
https://www.metrodetroithelp.org/

MA
Boston HELP
BostonHerpes.org
781.648.4266

OH
Ohio Friends Support for Herpes and HPV
614-526-4461 (voicemail or text)
www.ohiofriends.org
info@ohiofriends.org

Canada

ON
Toronto HELP
c/o The Phoenix Association
Toronto, ON
(416) 449-0876
www.torontoherpes.com

Last update: 01/2021

Two people holding hands on a table

Herpes Support Groups

Support groups provide information and allow participants to share experiences, fears, and feelings with others who are concerned about herpes.

A health care provider talks to a patient

Herpes Testing

Is that sore or rash actually genital herpes? Can you tell by just looking? Can a healthcare provider? No! When it comes to diagnosing genital herpes, it takes more than a look.

Herpes Vaccine Research

There are currently both preventive and therapeutic vaccines under development. While the primary focus is on HSV-2, the primary cause of genital infection, HSV-2 vaccines may also have benefits in preventing or treating HSV-1 infection.