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 show new cases of genital herpes are increasing, with nearly 29,000 people diagnosed in 2025 - a 3% rise on the previous year. [BBC]Over time, Melys said she began to realise her genital herpes diagnosis didn't define her. Recently she started using her social media platforms to raise awareness of genital herpes. [BBC]Doctors believe the true number of people living with genital herpes could be much higher than statistics suggest.