Background: HSV 2 is the most prevalent STI in the US yet many clinicians still need lack a firm understanding of good herpes management skills. Before type specific serology became available, clinicians were unable to screen for herpes infections easily and therefore avoided approaching it as routinely as they did gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV and syphilis. Now, screening is readily available, and more people are being identified with herpes than ever before. The CDC states in their 2006 treatment guidelines that “Asymptomatic persons diagnosed with HSV-2 infection … should receive the same counseling messages as persons with symptomatic infection”. We can and should do more to normalize genital herpes care.

Purpose: Meetings such as this one provide excellent presentations on new research and technologies. However, many clinicians need to step back and gain or review the basics of epidemiology, testing, treatment, relationship to other STIs and HIV, and effective counseling approaches before they can do the best job possible of managing their herpes patients. It is a mistake to assume that everyone who works in the area of sexual health and attends these meetings is well-informed about genital herpes. This workshop is designed to meet the needs of both new and experienced clinicians by reviewing and bolstering essential information about herpes and providing more advanced guidance relevant to screening and management. When clinicians feel confident about their herpes knowledge and diagnostic skills, they will feel more at ease about including routine herpes diagnosis and care in their everyday practice (vs. being unwilling to “open Pandora's box”).

Methods (instructional approach): The workshop will include lectures by experts in herpes care including Terri Warren, Peter Leone and Hunter Handsfield, small group discussions, videos, role-playing and review of case studies brought by participants, as well as pre- and post-workshop evaluations.