Hello fellow positive people

I'm a trans man who was recently diagnosed with GHSV2 (already got cold sores yearly since I was a teenager) and I will start testosterone gel by next month.

Having to go a sexual health clinic and have to have women only look at my junk and talk about female reproductive things and getting birth control up my vagina is already uncomfortable, especially the talk of future pap smears (I have 2 years until I "should" get one and I really don't want any). I only got the coil because if I got pregnant I would freak out for many reasons (not just for being trans) and the pill made me bleed for ages with no end. Also no period is great. I feel a bit less dysphoric because I don't have one at all.

But then also being told I have an STI on my genitals which I'm not very comfortable with having is awkward. I was initially there to get a sexual health screening 1. To get on prep and 2. To sign up as a new patient (they couldn't find my old record from when I got my coil put in in 2020).

I was asked by the nurse if I was on hormones whilst I was there & was told testosterone can increase the risk of getting STIs (I think probably due to potential vaginal atrophy which may lead to more friction??).

Now I'm wondering if I will be more likely to transmit (not planning on unprotected sex on the affected area during outbreaks) when I'm on T.

I also hate having to deal with not having a "male version" of this condition (aka not having it on my anus or on a cis dick) because I have it on female genitals and the idea it was more likely for me to get GSHV2 because of my birth sex is an uncomfortable thought for me. Being born the wrong sex really has ruined my life in many ways. Luckily I don't need to worry about catching HSV1 as well.