Sometimes I’m sure I’ve invented something — and you know, not told anybody about it — only to find out it already exists. And has. For like, three years.
Such is the case with Prescription4love.com, an alternative online-dating site for people who suffer from health conditions or STDs.
“Wouldn’t it be great,” I mused, “if there was a place where people could go and be totally upfront about their Hep C or herp, and get matched with other folks who are already infected? No stigma, no awkward conversations, no risk of passing anything along.”
Over at CNN, A 38-year-old LA publicist describes her relief in finding such sites after years of hiding out post-herpes diagnosis:
“I wanted to meet men with my same diagnosis so we wouldn’t [need to] have ‘the talk,’ or fear of rejection and transmitting,” she says. “Most of us with this don’t wish to spread it.”
Other sites, such as Nolongerlonely.com and Cisforcupid.com, cater to individuals with health issues. And it’s not just STDs — these sites are making matches for those with mild psychological disorders to physical disabilities to Crohn’s disease.
According to CNN, these niche sites are generally much less expensive than more generalized competitors like eHarmony.
Prescription 4 Love, which started charging in May 2009, is $9.95 per month, while most of the features on No Longer Lonely (including the dating service and chat rooms) are still free.
This is refreshing. I’m glad that people who have STDs don’t have to feel like they’ll be judged on this kind of dating site.
I think thats a great idea, I would be very interested in meeting fellow sufferers if I had a STD.
I don’t really get the stigma that is attatched to herpes though, I have had three long term relationships with people with herpes, and I do not have it myself, and I was never particularly careful about not getting it. So it cant be that easy to transfer!
I think it’s awsome for people with STDs.
But other diseases? I have Crohn’s and I feel slightly offended. I think that shouldn’t be a social stigma, and for me it isn’t.
It’s not like it can be transfered.
It doesn’t have to be a social stigma, but for some people that feel less comfortable out in the open, it could be nice to find someone that already understands everything about it.
Huh. They’ve got specific dating sites for everything these days, I guess.