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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.