// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
I refuse to feel ashamed of my genital herpes diagnosis
For almost a year Melys avoided making eye contact, hiding behind dark glasses even when speaking to close friends
In her early 20s, Melys Edwards rarely left the house without a pair of sunglasses.
Not because it was sunny, but because she was ashamed.
"I just didn't want people to see me," the 29-year-old said.
Health experts say that for many people, the psychological impact of a genital herpes diagnosis - which is treatable but not curable - can be even greater than the physical symptoms.
In England official figures, external show new cases of genital herpes are increasing, with nearly 29,000 people diagnosed in 2025 - a 3% rise on the previous year.
In Wales, Public Health Wales recorded 913 first episode diagnoses, external in 2025, down from 1,321 the previous year - although they warned the figures should be interpreted cautiously because of incomplete clinical data from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
For Melys, from Wrexham, the physical pain of her first outbreak was intolerable.
"When I first got it, it was horrendous... the worst pain ever," she said.
The yoga teacher and digital content creator believes she caught it through having unprotected sex with someone who knew he had genital herpes, but didn't tell her.