Welcome to The Helper
The American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) published the first issue of The Helper in 1979, in response to an overwhelming public demand for unbiased, accurate information about herpes simplex virus infection. The Helper was an essential part of ASHA’s Herpes Resource Center (HRC), the first national outreach center for people with herpes. As the inaugural issue of The Helper stated, the establishment of the HRC was “the first step along a road of hope for the thousands of individuals who have suffered silently for too long.”
Published as a subscription-based publication for more than 30 years, The Helper is now available free online. From testing and treatment options to the differences and consequences of the different viral types, to the emotional issues of dealing with a stigmatized infection and communicating with intimate partners about it, the articles presented here cover a wide range of issues of interest to our readers and reflect some of the best the newsletter has had to offer over the past three decades along with latest news, research and commentary.
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Posted On Risk Reduction
How effective are condoms at reducing the risk of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)?
It is widely known that consistent and correct condom use reduces the risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections…
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Posted On Risk Reduction
Condoms Lower the Risk for Genital Herpes
An analysis of data from several studies looking at HSV-2 and condom use finds that safer sex is highly protective…
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Posted On Risk Reduction
Viral Shedding and Long-term infection
Study shows shedding continues decades into infection While previous research has shown that those newly infected with genital HSV-2 have…
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Posted On Risk Reduction
New Condom Label Guidance from FDA Addresses Herpes, HPV
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued final rules that govern how condom packages are labeled, and says…
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Posted On Risk Reduction
Male Circumcision Protective Against HPV and HSV
Research has shown circumcision more than halves a man’s risk of acquiring HIV. New studies show this procedure also makes…
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Posted On Risk Reduction
Do Frequent Recurrences Mean Greater Transmission Risk?
Revisiting the Valacyclovir Transmission Study Do more frequent recurrences of genital herpes translate into a greater risk of transmission to…
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Posted On Herpes Research
Herpes Research at the 2010 National STD Conference
Held in Atlanta this year, the 2010 National STD Conference included a variety of speakers ranging from the new Director…
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Posted On Herpes Research
New Insight into Genital Herpes Reactivation
A new study by Sunitha Tata, et al, published in the February issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases examining herpes simplex…