I also have HSV (Not HPV for the poster who asked- look them up they are very different).
I have no idea where I got it from, I know that the long term partner that I split from 25 years ago and I both had it, but neither of us knew who got it first, I was the Forest to bring it up and he managed to make it my "fault" and make me feel bad. When I mentioned symptoms he said he had them too, and twisted it to be me when it suited. Not that any of that matters.
After we split I was terrified I'd be never loved or make love again. The reality is quite different.
Like a pp who always posts when they see an HSV thread come up, I do too. It's not the end of the world. You do need to be honest with people before you have sex with them, and also be very clear about what it means and what it doesn't mean.
I learned to talk about it by introducing the subject of cold sores, same virus (and yes there are two viruses, BOTH can cause lesions on the face and the genitals, both can cause the same awful first infection symptoms and both can be dangerous if (and only if) a woman is experiencing a first outbreak in the last days of pregnancy and is delivering vaginally. Otherwise it's about as significant as a bout of impetigo; ie it's a skin condition that is infectious and can recur.
Read up, be well educated on it. Don't let it get you down. If somone has cold sores on their face it could as easily be "genital" - HSV 2, as HSV 1. So talk about it, help remove the stigma.
There is no cure, but it's easily controlled if not cured, simple precautions prevent it being passed on. In the 25 years I've carried the virus I've never known a partner catch it from me knowingly (not counting the one who only fessed up when I mentioned it- so perhaps one did. I've had more sexual relationships than I can count since (all with full disclosure).
The stigma needs to be removed, it's a skin disease that is unpleasant and can be dangerous in late pregnancy to unborn children. There are drugs we can take that reduce the likelihood of outbreaks as well as the severity and the likelihood of non symptomatic shedding.
For those who believe that it's some kind of kiss of death and we should be treated like lepers. Do/did youask future partners if they have ever had cold sores before kissing them? Perhaps you should/should have, the virus doesn't care if it invades nerves in the genital or face regions.
It's not picked up on routine STI tests so saying one has a clear test is no guarantee either.
Please stop worrying and feeling awful OP, you will find another lover and you will be loved again and anyone who judges you is just a shitty idiot who are better off without.
Lecture over for another year or so.
Sending best wishes and the most unmumsnetty of hugs OP. Keep on keeping on.