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 www.ASHAstd.org or 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 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