Sexual Health Experts Join Forces to Encourage Open Communication About
Genital Herpes
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- If you're among
the 90 million single and unmarried people in the United States, you may
think you know what's being talked about in today's dating scene. But it's
also important to consider what your fellow singles are not talking about.
A survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R) for Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Corporation on behalf of the American Social Health Association (ASHA)
reveals that more than one-quarter of survey respondents (28%) identified
genital herpes as a taboo topic to discuss in today's society, ranking it
higher than HIV (20%), mental illness (14%) and obesity (10%).
The survey also showed that approximately three in five adults (61%)
with genital herpes said that revealing their condition to their partner(s)
was troubling to them and only about one-third (32%) said they were open
about their condition with their close family and friends. In addition, a
majority of survey respondents (59%) who said they do not have genital
herpes admit they aren't very familiar with the disease and only 10% say
they have actually been tested for it.
"Despite the fact that one in five sexually active Americans in the
United States is living with genital herpes, this survey shows there is
still stigma and lack of awareness associated with the virus," said Lynn
Barclay, president and CEO of the American Social Health Association
(ASHA). "These findings, coupled with the fact that, according to the CDC,
nine out of 10 people do not even know they have genital herpes, further
illustrate the need for people to educate themselves, talk to their health
care providers, and share an open dialogue with their sexual partners --
for their own protection and that of their partner."
In an effort to educate the public about sexual health, encourage
people to start talking to their sexual partners and experience a healthy
sex life when living with genital herpes, ASHA and Novartis have partnered
with Laura Berman, LCSW, PhD, director of the Berman Center in Chicago,
columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and star of Showtime's "Sexual Healing"
series.
"It's time that we start confronting the reality of genital herpes as
one of the most common yet treatable STDs in this country," said Dr.
Berman. "A genital herpes diagnosis does not have to prevent people from
having meaningful relationships, nor should it take control of their lives.
In fact, 81% of survey respondents living with genital herpes say they feel
they are in control of their condition."
The survey also showed that while 75% of survey respondents with
genital herpes who experience outbreaks feel that outbreaks are the most
troubling aspect of the condition, nearly the same percentage (74%) say
they can feel an outbreak coming on before it actually occurs.
"Patients who can tell when an outbreak is emerging can begin treatment
at the first sign or symptom," said Dr. Berman. "Single-Day Famvir(R)
(famciclovir) Tablets are a treatment that can give patients the
opportunity to stop or shorten an outbreak of recurrent genital herpes with
just one day of treatment."
Famvir is indicated for the treatment or suppression of recurrent
genital herpes in immunocompetent patients. Treatment should be started at
the first sign or symptom onset and/or lesion appearance. Effectiveness of
Famvir has not been proven when treatment is initiated more than six hours
after onset. Famvir is the first and only antiviral medication approved to
treat recurrent genital herpes in a single day.
Additional treatment options for genital herpes include Zovirax(R)
(acyclovir) and Valtrex(R) (valacyclovir HCl).
Berman and Barclay agree that people who are sexually active should
talk to their health care provider about whether they should get tested for
genital herpes and -- if diagnosed -- seek the information, educational
resources and medications that can help manage the disease and the
outbreaks associated with it.
For more information on genital herpes, please visit http://www.ASHAstd.org or
http://www.genitalherpes.com.
About the Survey
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris
Interactive on behalf of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, between
December 14, 2006, and January 12, 2007, among 1,909 U.S. adults age 18+
(503 who have genital herpes and 1,406 who say they do not). The 503
includes an oversample (i.e. a targeted sample) of adults with genital
herpes drawn from the Harris Interactive Chronic Illness panel. The
oversample targeted individuals based on their meeting specific
qualification criteria -- in this case having genital herpes -- in order to
supplement the number of survey respondents in the general population that
have genital herpes. Figures for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education,
household income, and region were weighted individually for the adult
genital herpes and non-genital herpes populations where necessary to bring
them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity
score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be
online. This survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no
theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases
in the United States. Approximately one in five sexually active Americans
is infected with genital herpes. Nearly 90% of people affected with genital
herpes may not know they are infected. Anyone who is sexually active with
an infected partner can get genital herpes. However, typically more women
are diagnosed with genital herpes than men.
There is no cure for genital herpes. Oral antiviral medications are
indicated to treat or suppress genital herpes. People with genital herpes
can treat it suppressively, taking medication every day, or episodically,
taking medication when each outbreak occurs.
About the American Social Health Association (ASHA)
Since 1914, the American Social Health Association (ASHA) has been
dedicated to improving the health of individuals, families, and
communities, with a focus on preventing sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) and their harmful consequences.
Over the past 94 years, ASHA has pursued its mission through education,
communication, advocacy and policy analysis activities designed to heighten
public, patient, provider, policymaker and media awareness of STI
prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment strategies.
About FAMVIR(R) (famciclovir) Tablets
FAMVIR is indicated for the treatment or suppression of recurrent
genital herpes in immunocompetent patients; treatment of recurrent herpes
labialis (cold sores) in immunocompetent patients; treatment of recurrent
mucocutaneous herpes simplex infections in HIV-infected patients; and
treatment of acute herpes zoster (shingles).
Important Safety Information
FAMVIR is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to
the product, its components, and Denavir(R) (penciclovir cream).
The efficacy of FAMVIR has not been established for initial-episode
genital herpes infection, ophthalmic zoster, disseminated zoster or in
immunocompromised patients with herpes zoster.
Dosage adjustment is recommended when administering FAMVIR to patients
with creatinine clearance values <60 mL/min. In patients with underlying
renal disease who have received inappropriately high doses of FAMVIR for
their level of renal function, acute renal failure has been reported.
FAMVIR tablets contain lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems
of galactose intolerance, a severe lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose
malabsorption should not take FAMVIR tablets.
FAMVIR is not a cure for genital herpes. There are no data evaluating
whether FAMVIR will prevent transmission of infection to others. Genital
herpes can also be transmitted in the absence of symptoms through
asymptomatic viral shedding.
Patients should be instructed not to drive or operate machinery if they
experience dizziness, somnolence, confusion, or other central nervous
system disturbances while taking FAMVIR.
FAMVIR is Pregnancy Category B.
Safety and efficacy in children under the age of 18 years have not been
established.
In clinical trials, the most commonly reported adverse events were
headache, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, vomiting,
flatulence, and fatigue.
Full Prescribing Information for FAMVIR is available at http://www.famvir.com
or by contacting Amy Hunter of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at
(862) 778-6309 or via e-mail at amy.hunter@novartis.com
* FAMVIR(R) (famciclovir) is a registered trademark of Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Zovirax(R) (acyclovir) and Valtrex(R) (valacyclovir HCl) are registered
trademarks of GlaxoSmithKline.
Lynn Barclay
ASHA
(919) 361-3125
LynnBarclay@ASHAstd.org
Lauren Magnetti
Cohn & Wolfe
(212) 798-9863
Lauren_Magnetti@cohnwolfe.com
SOURCE American Social Health Association
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Related links:
http://www.ASHAstd.org
http://www.famvir.com
CONTACT:
Lynn Barclay, of ASHA, +1-919-361-3125,
LynnBarclay@ASHAstd.org; Lauren Magnetti, of Cohn & Wolfe,
+1-212-798-9863, Lauren_Magnetti@cohnwolfe.com
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