Dr. Ruth's
Guide to Talking About Herpes
Cleveland Plain
Dealer - Cleveland,OH,USA
(Grove Press, $14) by Ruth
Westheimer, Ph.D., and Pierre Lehu.
Never one to shy from delicate subjects, the
therapist who once lent her name to a sex toy and
trained as a sniper with the Israeli Defense Force
tackles herpes.
Herpes afflicts 60 million, but as Westheimer
points out, just 6 million people know they have
it.
Talking about it, then, certainly would seem
critical. And Westheimer, with her strangely
infectious giggle, is probably just the person.
While the laugh doesn't translate to the page,
Westheimer's straightforward approach does, making
it apparent why she was at the forefront of the
self-help revolution.
"Since I'm not a medical doctor, I'm afraid
there's not much that I can do about the medical
consequences of this epidemic," says Westheimer,
who received a doctorate of education from
Columbia University Teachers College in 1970.
However, she is equipped after more than two
decades as the country's pre-eminent "sexpert" to
deal with psychological baggage.
Despite admitting her lack of medical expertise,
she opens with a rudimentary explanation of the
kinds of herpes, how they are transmitted and how
to prevent them. She quickly moves into the
emotional aspect, the typical reactions being
anger, isolation and depression. She intersperses
her own advice with information from sufferers,
culled from support groups around the country.
Obviously, the stigma attached to the disease is a
large reason it is so difficult to deal with
emotionally.
She explains, repeatedly, that while doctors might
provide medical information, they might not help
out in the emotional-care department. And here is
where things get tricky for sufferers. Some deal
with it rationally, can be open and unashamed.
Some do not. Some have lovers and spouses who are
understanding and helpful. Some do not. Some have
families who are supportive. Some do not. Most of
the book discusses ways to deal with these
relationships and the rejection that might ensue.
Still, the largest benefit of this book might be
in helping sufferers understand that herpes is
just a disease and not, as Westheimer says, a
scarlet letter.
