Is your friend in the States? I know there is a hotline for herpes sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control. I'd talk to my doctor or call the hotline to become more informed. If I can, I'll post the number for you.

One thing, tell your friend to keep in mind that it is now known that a person w/herpes does NOT have to have a sore of any kind to still pass on the disease, so you HAVE to place it safe if you want to avoid the disease.

Does anybody know if the vaccine for it is available yet? Back in '97 and '98, a vaccine was being tested in St. Louis, primarily among people who did not have herpes but who had partners who DID have herpes. I don't know if it is available widespread or not. I will look into that and post what I find. Or, that also would be a good question for the CDC hotline.

I am not advising anyone to avoid someone because they have an STD, but I think your friend needs to keep in mind, too, that herpes is not one of those STDs in which you can take a medication and get rid of it. There are meds available to cut the number of attacks and severity of the attacks (or outbreaks), but, still, there is no cure. Once you have it, you have it. Over time you usually have fewer and fewer outbreaks, but you still have it...period. I'd give any such disease in which there is no cure a heck of a lot more thought than one you can get rid of.

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Communication is the key.