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Can Herpes Be Contracted Through Intercourse?
Posted on
Sun, 22 May 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 22 May 2016
Answered on
Tue, 28 Jun 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Is it safe to assume that if l possibly have herpes, and had unprotected sex a week before l had symptoms, that person is the carrier? I have had unprotected sex with him in the past, but had no outbreak.
Brief Answer:
Some information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Usually the initial infection with genital herpes is worse than subsequent infections, and there can be fever and feeling unwell, body aches - feeling fluish. But not everyone gets symptoms.
If you have been tested for and have herpes and this is your first sign of having it, then you likely contracted it 2 - 12 days ago.
But we can't be exact about when you got herpes. And it's possible for your partner to be asymptomatic yet shed herpes virus at various times without being aware of it. So it doesn't mean necessarily that he was herpes free and then had sex with someone else and gave it to you. Because viral shedding is unpredictable this way, it is very hard to say when you got it. If you have not had unprotected sex except with this man and suddenly you have symptoms of and are diagnosed with HSV, then yes, it is safe to say you got it from him.
You may find the following information sheet from the CDC helpful: http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes-detailed.htm
Some information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Usually the initial infection with genital herpes is worse than subsequent infections, and there can be fever and feeling unwell, body aches - feeling fluish. But not everyone gets symptoms.
If you have been tested for and have herpes and this is your first sign of having it, then you likely contracted it 2 - 12 days ago.
But we can't be exact about when you got herpes. And it's possible for your partner to be asymptomatic yet shed herpes virus at various times without being aware of it. So it doesn't mean necessarily that he was herpes free and then had sex with someone else and gave it to you. Because viral shedding is unpredictable this way, it is very hard to say when you got it. If you have not had unprotected sex except with this man and suddenly you have symptoms of and are diagnosed with HSV, then yes, it is safe to say you got it from him.
You may find the following information sheet from the CDC helpful: http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes-detailed.htm
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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