Infected: Putting Misinformation About Herpes To Bed

By Anita Rao,

Published April 14, 2021 at 4:00 AM EDT

Anita, like many of us, was essentially taught that a herpes diagnosis means the end of a good sex life. Now it's time for a real education about the sexually transmitted infection, which is extremely common and far less terrifying once you open the door to conversation about it. | Support this show with a donation to wunc.org/give.

Meet the guests:

Ella Dawson, a sex and culture critic, talks about her experience navigating a herpes diagnosis and how opening up about it publicly has shaped her life and relationships.
Dr. Peter Leone, an infectious disease expert, shares the science of herpes and clears up common misconceptions about the virus.
Anita's good friend shares the range of responses she's gotten while disclosing her diagnosis and how she hopes the conversation around herpes will evolve.