Could Facebook tell you which of your friends has an STD?

As many a Facebook friend will tell you, revealing more about your private life than you would like is an everyday hazard of the web.

But a new concept for an app could see social network users sharing information far more sensitive than a drunken party snap.

Researchers are exploring whether websites such as Facebook could be used to sift through users' friend lists and flag up which of them may be carrying a sexually transmitted infection.

A team at the University of North Carolina's Center for Infectious Diseases hopes this approach can harness the power of increasingly ubiquitous social networks to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV and chlamydia.

At an international health conference held last month, Dr Peter Leone - the professor leading the research - pointed out how a patient's circle of friends can be a vital clue in identifying who could be at risk of infection.

The theory is that, since social networks mirror our real-life friendship circles, services such as Facebook could be used to contact an entire at-risk group and tell them they may be in danger.

In a previous study Dr Leone tested the sexual partners of newly diagnosed HIV patients and found 20 per cent of them showed up HIV-positive.

His latest research looks at this finding in light of the idea that people who move in similar social circles often have sexual partners in common.

Dr Leone aims to develop a more precise approach to tracking the spread of STDs than simply focusing on at-risk demographics or limiting the search to those with whom the patient has had direct sexual contact.

Speaking to Salon, Dr Leone told of how a syphilis outbreak in North Carolina demonstrated how STDs can thrive within a social circle.

He said: 'When we looked at the networks we could connect many of the cases to sexual encounters, and when we asked who they hung out with, who they knew, we could connect 80 percent of the cases.'

The researchers offer a service whereby newly diagnosed HIV patients can provide a list of past sexual partners and anyone else who could have picked up the virus indirectly. The team then contacts these people, sometimes through Facebook, to let them know the patient is HIV-positive and that they should get themselves tested.

Describing the spread of sexual infections as a 'population-level effect', Dr Leone told Salon: 'It would be no different from someone who goes to a picnic and gets food poisoning. We’re concerned about everyone that was at that picnic.'

Another method being considered is based on an exisiting app for tracking the spread of flu. Developed by genetics professor James Fowler, of the University of California in San Diego, it trawls status updates for certain patterns and keywords, notifying users if their friends' activity indicates that they may be at a higher risk of falling ill.

The problem, of course, is that Facebook users are far less likely to broadcast news of their newly contracted STD than of a sore throat.

Nevertheless, Dr Fowler said social networks remain useful in the fight against STDs.

Not only do the likes of Facebook enable users to spread the message of safe sex, he said, they allow people to set examples to friends and destigmatise sexual health issues.

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The above extract was taken from the Daily Mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123914/Why-Facebook-soon-tell-friends-STD.html

One would hope that herpes or HPV would not be one of their targets but it is something to think about.

UK Herpes Dating = H-YPE!

No, we are not changing H-YPE's name to UK Herpes Dating. It is simply another way to find us. The name UK Herpes Dating was created as another way to bring the newly diagnosed members of our society to H-YPE using the keywords that seem to be quite popular on search engines.

Of course it is up to you to choose which of the following you should use:

www.h-ype.com
www.ukherpesdating.com

Rest assured that you will end up in the same wonderful place...H-YPE!

437737 is code for herpes - www.H-YPE.com

Yes it is true.....437737 is code for herpes! If you were to type the word "HERPES" on your phone, the corresponding numbers would actually be 437737.

"So what good does this do for me?", I hear you ask.

Watch this video to find out more...

If herpes dating sites are not for you then try adding the number 437737 to your profile so that others can do a keyword search for you or why not try searching for others yourself? Or you could use this method alongside of herpes dating sites.

If the thought of exposing yourself by adding this number to your regular dating site profile scares you then try using a dedicated herpes dating site like www.H-YPE.com.
Click here to join H-YPE now.

H-YPE thinks it is Better 2 Know

H-YPE has teamed up with Better2Know to give you a discount off all your Sexual Health Tests including Herpes and HPV.  Better2Know is the UK's largest private provider of sexual health testing services, with over 80 clinics across the UK. It provides anonymous and confidential STD tests with quick appointments and fast results.

If you mention “H-YPE” when you book your test, and you will get a 5% discount.

Please call 0844 561 0844 or visit the website www.better2know.co.uk to find out more about their services or the closest clinic to you.

How to find more people in your area with herpes

Print off some of these cards and drop them off at your local clinic. It is the ideal way to find other H-YPEsters in your immediate area.

You know it makes sense.

If your experience with H-YPE has been a positive one and you would like to tell others, we've made cards for you to print off in your choice of either colour or black & white.

Each document is A4 in size and contains 10 cards to each page. Once cut into 10 smaller pieces they should be the perfect size to carry round, inconspicuously of course......and just the right size for new H-YPEsters in your area to put in in their back pocket, purse, bag, wallet etc after seeing their health adviser.

Where can you put them?

• Give some to your health adviser
• Ask your clinic if you can leave some in their waiting room
• Hand them out at H parties or gatherings
• Maybe let others know where they can download the files themselves 

To download the colour version click here.

To download the black and white version click here.

Wishing you all a Happy 2012 with a review of 2011

As we say good-bye to 2011 and hello to 2012 we can look back on he past year and see how so many wonderful times were had by so many H-YPEsters.

There were numerous events on offer and many of the fantastic members of H-YPE took part in the organisation of these events for which we are very grateful.

Here is a quick summary of 2011.

• 9 jan - Venice then skiing in Cortina D'Ampezzo
• 22 Jan - Winter Walk Followed By Pub Lunch... Etc!
• 29 Jan - Dorset Drinkies
• 5 Feb -  Manchester Mega Day
• 5 Mar -  Drink & Dance - London
• 12 Mar -  Newcastle Part 3!
• 18 Mar -  Glencoe Bunkhouse
• 26 Mar -  HVA Meeting - Type 2 Antibody Test Session
• 17 Apr -  Walk And Pub Lunch - New Forest
• 29 Apr -  Bunkhouse Strikes Again!! but in Harlech
• 7 May -  Lake Garda Adventure Trip
• 21 May -  Newbie Pre-Party Meet - London
• 21 May -  The London H-YPE Spring Into Summer Party
• 29 May - London Drinks
• 1 Jun -  Edinburgh Mid-Week Social
• 3 Jun -  Racy Weekend (Car racing that is) - Oulton Park
• 4 Jun - HVA Meeting - Expert Talks - Russell Square
• 9 Jun -  Welsh Bunkhouse - Bwlchcoediog
• 9 Jul - HVA Meeting - The Atrium, President Hotel
• 15 Jul -  Camping Weekend - Silverdale
• 30 Jul -  Night Out, South London - Clapham Common
• 11 Aug -  Herts & Beds Local Drink
• 12 Aug -  Camping/Beach Party - Scarborough
• 13 Aug -  Fringe Day Out - Edinburgh
• 19 Aug -  80s Rewind Festival
• 27 Aug -  Last Minute Camping Trip - Hell's Mouth
• 3 Sep -  Leeds Drinks
• 16 Sep -  Seaside Camping Weekend - Swanage
• 23 Sep -  The Big 18-30 Camping Event!
• 24 Sep -  Night Out In Bristol
• 30 Sep -  Bowling Night
• 4 Oct -  Last Minute Latin Meetup!
• 15 Oct -  Manky Night Out...Round 4 - Manchester
• 22 Oct -  Walk And Dinner - Reading
• 28 Oct -  Another Herts Drink
• 4 Nov -  Bonfire Night Bunkbarn - Sedbergh
• 11 Nov -  Drinks In Nottingham
• 11 Nov -  Newcastle Drinks
• 19 Nov -  Newbie Christmas Pre-Party Meet
• 19 nov -  The H-YPE London Christmas Party
• 4 Dec -  Christmas Jam On A Sunday Afternoon - High Wycombe
• 9 Dec -  Herts & Beds Drink
• 18 Dec -  Last Minute Leeds Drinks

Did we say a quick summary? Well with the H-YPE membership going from strength to strength there should be just as much, if not more to look forward to in 2012.

Not to forget the 3 engagements, 1 wedding, a couple of H-YPE babies, countless friendships formed and of course all the H-YPEsters that have found balance from a once turbulent relationship with herpes.

We would like to thank all the members of H-YPE for helping make our site such a wonderful place to visit.

If you are not already a member, then what are you waiting for? Click here to join H-YPE!

You'll be so glad you did.

The ONLY UK herpes dating site with a real community

When it comes to joining a herpes dating site there are plenty of sites to choose from. As it is with H-YPE, they should be free to join and look around and we actively encourage you to compare the different options out there.

We are of course the ONLY site that suggests this because we are confident that once you have compared H-YPE to the rest, you will see that we are the right site for your needs.

H-YPE has more members than any other site in the UK, with more photos, more blogs and more choice. Our events are amazing, thanks to the fantastic members of our wonderful community. No other site in the UK can offer you such a service.

We believe in value for money and offer an abundance of features for a small contribution. Other sites will attempt to lure you in with "herpes sales" but in the real world, you get what you pay for.

We have purposely kept our prices low so as not to exclude anyone based on salary, especially in these difficult times, though running a site like H-YPE does incur costs which must be covered. Our members understand and appreciate this, hence our thriving community.

Despite these costs, we truly believe that support and advice should be a free service which is why we have made the H-YPE forum open to all levels of membership....and yes that includes the free STANDARD membership too.

Our caring community of H-YPEsters are always on hand to offer those in need of support and advice the help they need.

In 2009, H-YPE was the first site to offer free FULL ACCESS membership to those on unemployment and incapacity benefits. Of course this has now been copied by others and we are glad to have shown them the way forward.

We are very proud to be the number one choice for herpes dating in the UK and only have the members of H-YPE to thank for that honour.

So in closing, let us say just one more time, don't take our word for it.....look around and compare the sites using the free registration before you make a choice and part with your hard earned cash.

Click here to join H-YPE now. You'll be so glad you did.