Damaged Goods? : Women Living With Incurable Sexually Transmitted Diseases

How do women living with genital herpes and/or HPV (human papillomavirus) infections see themselves as sexual beings, and what choices do they make about sexual health issues? Adina Nack, a medical sociologist who specializes in sexual health and social psychology, conducted in-depth interviews with 43 women about their identities and sexuality with regard to chronic illness. The result is a fascinating book about an issue that affects millions around the world, but is all too little discussed. "Damaged Goods?" adds to our knowledge of how women are affected by living with chronic STDs and reveals the stages of their sexual self-transformation. From the anxiety of being diagnosed with an STD to issues of blame and shame, Nack - herself diagnosed with a cervical HPV infection - shows why these women, feeling that they are "damaged goods," question future relationships, marriage, and their ability to have healthy children. From The Publisher. How Do Women Living With Genital Herpes And/or Hpv (human Papilloma Virus) Infections See Themselves As Sexual Beings, And What Choices Do They Make About Sexual Health Issues? Adina Nack, A Medical Sociologist Who Specializes In Sexual Health And Social Psychology, Conducted In-depth Interviews With 43 Women About Their Identities And Sexuality In Regards To Chronic Illness. The Result Is A Fascinating Book About An Issue That Affects Over 15 Million Americans, But Is All Too Little Discussed. Damaged Goods Adds To Our Knowledge Of How Women Are Affected By Living With Chronic Stds And Reveals The Stages Of Their Sexual- Self Transformation. From The Anxiety Of Being Diagnosed With An Std To Issues Of Blame And Shame, Nack -- Herself Diagnosed With A Cervical Hpv Infection -- Shows Why These Women Feeling That They Are Damaged Goods, Question Future Relationships, Marriage, And Their Ability To Have Healthy Children. Mixing Morality With Medicine -- Sexual Invincibility -- Std Anxiety -- The Immoral Patient -- Damaged Goods -- Sexual Healing -- Reintegrating The Sexual Self -- From Personal Tragedies To Social Change. Adina Nack. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [231]-241) And Index. How do women living with genital herpes and/or HPV (human papillomavirus) infections see themselves as sexual beings, and what choices do they make about sexual health issues? This book describes how women are affected by living with chronic STDs and reveals the stages of their sexual self-transformation. Traces the physical, moral and social consequences of living with genital herpes and/or HPV infections How living with a chronic, stigmatizing, and contagious disease transforms women's lives