your love life isn’t over. Shit, they make entire dating sites for people who have STDs. But that’s not the point.

I know it’s devastating now, but hopefully it will get better. I have faith in you. Don’t give up too quickly. You’re not alone in anything like this.

I don’t know how relevant this is, (after all, I’m not really qualified to give any advice whatsoever. In fact, I feel like I’m stepping way out of line by leaving a comment at all) but a lot of people these days have received Gardasil, a “vaccine” for HPV. I don’t really know how effective it is or anything, but it’s a form of protection. If I were you, I’d ask your doctor if your type is a type that Gardasil covers. Hope in a bottle, yeah?

^{I’ll be your travel companion though if you end up being a stinky, rich, loveless bastard. We can be loveless together :D}

Disciplined, a solid backbone, lots of character, integrity…

I’m only one of many but I feel safe in saying that women love those qualities in a man. There’s something quite heroic and noble (at least, from this perspective) about you having a conscience.

I agree with your friend, give it some time, you’re still adapting.

You may discover that there’s nothing wrong with being solo. If you can get comfortable with this as a ‘worst case’ scenario, everything else will be great, especially for your finances!

You may find someone precisely when you’re not looking.

You may feel released from the pressure of looking for someone and then just be that more comfortable in your life.

You may find someone of great quality with whom you can manage this situation.

I agree with Crunchybread, we all have our baggage. Women with kids, people with extra pounds…

I’m sure it’s really devastating to you and I don’t know a lot about this issue but somehow, I just doubt your love life is really over! It can’t be!

you would be surprised how many ladies already have this. I know a few. (Because of this, I also know that there are dating sites on the interwebz specifically for people who are looking for others with their same STI.) And surprisingly, HPV is an STI where many times, the body clears the infection on its own, at least in the case of low-risk strains. It can take several years, but hey…in the grand scheme of things, that’s not all THAT long.

If you just found out about this, of course it’s going to take some time to adjust. But like you said, it could be much worse, and I think you’re perhaps being a bit hard on yourself (and on the women you’ll potentially be dating). Of COURSE it’s going to be awkward having that conversation, but better to do it before being intimate than after – “Hey, by the way, um…” But your love life probably isn’t over.

has been given above. My oncologist told me I would be very surprised at the percentage of people that have HPV. It’s at least 89% of my age group.
Your love life isn’t over just yet unless you want it to be. Keep it wrapped until your ready to have the conversation with your partner.
Best wishes! :)

It’s really not. It’s been made out to be a big deal but it’s extremely extremely common. As Julettaskey says, the majority of people have been exposed to it or have it.

Please read this article – it’ll debunk some of the myths and the shame.

By the way, Gardasil works on men as well as women. The only reason they were only advising it for women is because it’s women who get cervical cancer. But it’s now recommended for boys too, seeing as they are the ones passing on the HPV virus to these cervix-having women.

of the conversation you fear. It was not as terribly awkward as you think it will be :)

Fear is an illusion.