The number of people living with genital herpes is staggering. Nearly 50 million people in the United States have genital herpes, and there are 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year. There is more need for a book on herpes treatment than ever, yet there is a dearth of useful, updated information for the diagnosed.

The Good News About the Bad News: Herpes is a complete guide to living and loving with genital herpes with this core message: a herpes diagnosis is not the end of the world. Written in a positive, honest, and straightforward style, this book shows readers how they can live fulfilling and sexually active lives with the virus. The author, an internationally recognized herpes expert, offers information on understanding herpes symptoms and triggers, treatment options, the latest herpes research, and avoiding transmission to future sex partners. At the end of each chapter, she addresses the most common questions and concerns herpes sufferers have based on her experiences counseling thousands of people with genital herpes in her sexual health clinic and online as the herpes expert at WebMD.com.

The stigma associated with genital herpes can be a powerful disease in itself, and this book addresses the psychological impact on one's self-esteem it can have. The author gives advice for breaking the news to potential partners about herpes, coping with herpes in monogamous relationships, and finding supportive groups and resources.