The bad news about genital herpes is that it's caused by a particularly tricky virus, and - at least for now - it can't be cured. (Gonorrhea and syphilis, which are caused by bacteria, can be cured.) The first outbreak is usually the worst, but the virus often causes recurrent outbreaks for many years after the initial infection.

The good news is that although it's a genuine hassle, genital herpes is usually not serious, and the discomfort it causes can be fairly well controlled with the drug acyclovir (Zovirax). In fact, "for most people, herpes is not much more than a minor inconvenience," says Robert T. Ross, M.D., a medical epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control's Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.