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 Herpes and Relationships
inSpot: Let the e-card Do the Talking
After being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the prospect of notifying current and past partners can be daunting…
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Posted On Herpes and Relationships
Something to Talk About: Disclosing your diagnosis to a partner
A survey this past summer revealed something that we at the Herpes Resource Center are well aware of: it’s not necessarily easy…
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Posted On Herpes and RelationshipsNarrowing the Search for Love Online
ver logged on to look for love? You’re not alone—more than 16 million adults in the U.S. have used online…
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Posted On Herpes and Relationships
The Direct Approach: Jenelle Marie on talking to a partner about herpes and other STIs
One of the most common question posed to ASHA’s Herpes Resource Center over the years is “How do I tell…
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Posted On Personal Perspectives
“So much for me thinking I was being safe . . .”
Can you imagine being careful about choosing your sexual partners all your life to find out at 40 that you…
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Posted On Personal Perspectives
“When she shared her story with me I cried. For once in my life I felt like I was not alone…”
I contracted the herpes virus when I was a little girl, and would get blisters on my mouth all the…
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Posted On Personal Perspectives
“I am still learning how this disease fits into my life and how to manage . . .”
When I was diagnosed with herpes, a year and a half ago, I was devastated. I screamed, cried and called…
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Posted On Personal Perspectives
“I don’t go through a single day without thinking about all of it.”
About five years ago, I was raped multiple times by a guy I was dating. It was my first relationship…