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

Your support network

If you feel you need help in coming to terms with having genital herpes - or if you want to learn how to better live with it - there are a network of people and resources that can help.

Your healthcare providers

Your doctor and pharmacist have the knowledge and experience to help you learn to live with genital herpes. If you have questions or concerns, a healthcare provider should always be your first point of contact. Make sure to ask him or her about the ongoing support and resources available for those living with genital herpes.

Support groups

Support groups let you voice your feelings and concerns with others who know what it's like to have genital herpes. They can provide a great opportunity for you and others to share personal insights, and exchange information that you might not otherwise learn from a friend or even your doctor. To find a support group near you, ask your doctor or contact your local Sexual Health Centre or STI clinic.

Online resources

This site is just one of several highly credible sites that provide information and tools to help you manage genital herpes. Ask your doctor to recommend other educational sites.

Talk to your doctor about the ongoing support and resources available to you.

For a list of questions to ask, click here

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.