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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Once comprehensive but now outdated
The most recent edition of this book is now nearly 10 years old. In the medical field, that is a huge amount of time. I bought this book based on the positive reviews posted on Amazon, but ended up more confused after reading it. This book focuses primarily on the medical facts about herpes (if you want a book to help you deal with the emotional issues, this is NOT the book for you), but much of what is discussed is outdated. For instance, the book discusses that not much is known about asymptomatic shedding, but that there probably isn't much risk of infecting a partner unless visible sores are present -- science now knows that this isn't the case (in fact about 70% of people got herpes when their partners had no visible symptoms). The anti-virals such as Valtrex were just coming on the market around the time this book was published and effectiveness of these drugs wasn't well known at that point. A few days of research online will educate you far better than this book will about treatment and reducing the risk of transmission.
I did like some of the medical details regarding rarer symptoms -- this book does go much deeper than any information you will find on herpes resources online. This book also discussed herpes behavior on other part of the body -- something that isn't well discussed in other sources I have consulted.
If this book is ever updated, I think it will oncew again be a very valuable read. Until it's updated, however, the outdated information outweighs the detail it contains.
Rating: 
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Covered most of my questions
I think the book was well written and I liked the author's writing style. Its a little outdated though. I would like to see an updated edition with more data on the newer anti herpes drugs such as Valtrex. Its been 5 years, so its time to get some newer information out there.
Rating: 
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I am not a leper. read this book
Sometimes genital herpes can feel like a life sentence. And an occasionally itchy one at that. I experienced bitterness over the person who gave it to me and for 10 years people have resented me for having it. They believe it's a punishment for promiscuity when in fact I only had three serious partners and one gave it to me.
This book is awesome! It has all the fax AND good advice about handling herpes. I am more confident about just coming out and saying yes I am herpes sufferer please understand my perspective. I am not a leper. I FEEL A LOT BETTER AND KNOW ONE DAY I WILL FIND SOMEONE. highly recomended
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The best I have found.
This book is a comprehensive collection of questions that a person (infected or not) probably has. And there are questions that may not have even been thought of.
Stepehen Sacks "speaks" to the reader in a way that is humane and almost comforting. He answers these questions and presents the facts in a straightforward, realistic, non-judgemental and responsible way.
Some things this book explains are:
Symptoms.
Medical aspects of infection/ reinfection (in a way easily understood by those not in the medical profession.)
Type 1 vs. Type 2.
Means of transmission.
Management of the virus.
Asymptomatic vs. having symptoms and not knowing it.
Herpes and cancer.
It also addresses pshcological concerns and neonatal concerns.
It contains color plates that visually exemplify the virus.
This book will allow those who read it to have the knowledge they need to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Read this book with your highligter and a notepad by your side.
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This book saved my life . . . my self-esteem, marriage, etc!
This book is very informative. I learned more from this book than I did from the multitude of web sites on the subject. It's THE book to give to someone close who doesn't understand the disease.