Coping With Genital Herpes

An important step in coping with genital herpes is to understand the condition and be aware of its effects. In most cases, the symptoms are mild and can be controlled with medications. On an emotional level, however, having genital herpes can be a life-altering event. Support groups, counselors, and your healthcare provider can be sources of help in dealing with genital herpes.

Coping With Genital Herpes: An Overview

Learning that you have genital herpes can have both physical and emotional effects on your life and those close to you. These effects can be hard to handle, and it is normal for you and those close to you to have many different and sometimes confusing feelings.
 
However, you are taking the first step in dealing with genital herpes, which is to become educated on the condition and its possible physical and emotional impacts.
 

The Physical Impact of Coping With Genital Herpes

For some people, genital herpes symptoms can be severe; however, with most outbreaks, the symptoms are mild.
 Whether mild or severe, herpes can be managed effectively with medications (see Genital Herpes Medication) and other treatments (see Genital Herpes Treatment).
 
Genital herpes infections almost never cause permanent disability or long-term damage in healthy adults. Also, with proper treatment and open communication, herpes almost never prevents a healthy, rewarding sex life. Contrary to what many people have heard, genital herpes does not cause cervical cancer or any other kind of cancer.
 
(Click Genital Herpes Symptoms to learn more about the physical impact of herpes.)
 
Coping With Genital Herpes Article Continues on Next Page >
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
 
Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation
Referring Pages Articles