Washington Post Examines Online Dating Services for People With STDs, Including HIV
The Washington Post on Tuesday examined online dating services designed specifically for people with sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus and herpes. The Web sites -- such as Positive Personals, for HIV-positive individuals, and AfterH, for people with HPV or herpes -- allow members to interact without the concern of how and when to discuss their medical condition. According to Charles Ebel, vice president of health program resources at the American Social Health Association, "[T]hese sites can help break [newly diagnosed individuals] out of their temporary isolation and provide their first step back into the dating world." More than 65 million people in the United States have a viral STD (Booth, Washington Post, 5/10). The complete article is available online.
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