Living with Genital Herpes


How is genital herpes affecting your life?

Only you know how genital herpes is affecting your physical and emotional well-being. Take a few moments to ask yourself: Are you living well with genital herpes? What you find out about yourself can help your doctor help you.

Knowing How to Live with Genital Herpes Helps Put You In Charge

Emotional impact of genital herpes

Having genital herpes can affect you emotionally, as well as physically. Receiving your diagnosis can cause you to feel anger, embarrassment, worry or guilt. You may even now be feeling depressed or fear rejection. Many others have felt the same.2

It may reassure you to know that these feelings can lessen with time as you learn to live with genital herpes.

Why asking for help is so important

Accepting a diagnosis of genital herpes takes time. But you don't have to go through it alone. If you're upset, or you're not feeling good about yourself or your life, ask for help. Your family and close friends can provide valuable emotional support, while your doctor can educate you on living with genital herpes and inform you about the ongoing support available - from support groups to additional resources (For more information, click here.)

Asking for help can:

  • Teach you about lifestyle changes you can make to help you live well with genital herpes
  • Reassure you that others with the condition have overcome similar challenges
  • Guide you to helpful ongoing support resources

No matter whom you turn to, it's important that you do ask for help if you need it.


References
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  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Fact Sheet - Genital Herpes. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010
  2. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections; Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Infections. 2008 Edition. Available at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/std-mts/sti-its/guide-lignesdir-eng.php. Accessed Sept. 27, 2010.
  3. Cuisini M and Ghislanzoni M. The importance of diagnosing genital herpes. J Antimicro Chemo 2001;47(Topic T1):9-16.
  4. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada. Sexually Transmitted Infections: What are they? Genital Herpes. Available at: http://www.sexualityandu.ca/teens/sti-1-3.aspx. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  5. College of Family Physicians of Canada. Herpes - What it is and how to deal with it. Available at: Ask Your Family Doctor College of Family Physicians of Canada. Accessed Aug. 16, 2010.
  6. Sacks SL. The Truth About Herpes. 4th ed. West Vancouver, BC: Gordon Soules Book Publishers Ltd.;1997.