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Table of Contents
How Is Genital Herpes Spread?
Symptomatic vs. Asymptomatic Transmission Risk
Protection vs. No Protection Transmission Risk
How to Reduce the Risk of Transmitting Genital Herpes
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
This article discusses how genital herpes is spread, the transmission risk, and how to reduce the rate of transmission.
Davin G Photography / Getty Images
About 12% of people aged 14 to 49 in the United States (around 18 million) have genital herpes. The risk of genital herpes can differ depending on gender and sexual orientation.
The following are relevant findings pertaining to genital herpes transmission risk:
Herpes can be transmitted with or without symptoms. For many people, the first outbreak can be mild or have no symptoms at all. About 88% of people aged 14 to 49 who have herpes have not been diagnosed.
Is Undiagnosed Herpes Contagious?Yes. Herpes can be transmitted with or without symptoms, and about 88% of people aged 14 to 49 do not know they have herpes. The virus is contagious about 10% of days for people without outbreaks. For those with outbreaks, it is contagious about 20% of days.Among heterosexual couples who do not regularly use condoms, the transmission rate from a partner who has herpes to one who does not is 5-10% within one year.
Is Undiagnosed Herpes Contagious?
Yes. Herpes can be transmitted with or without symptoms, and about 88% of people aged 14 to 49 do not know they have herpes. The virus is contagious about 10% of days for people without outbreaks. For those with outbreaks, it is contagious about 20% of days.Among heterosexual couples who do not regularly use condoms, the transmission rate from a partner who has herpes to one who does not is 5-10% within one year.
Yes. Herpes can be transmitted with or without symptoms, and about 88% of people aged 14 to 49 do not know they have herpes. The virus is contagious about 10% of days for people without outbreaks. For those with outbreaks, it is contagious about 20% of days.
Among heterosexual couples who do not regularly use condoms, the transmission rate from a partner who has herpes to one who does not is 5-10% within one year.
Experts advise that using condoms during sex (even when there are no herpes outbreaks) and not having sex during outbreaks can greatly reduce the risk of passing on herpes to a partner.
When Should You Get Tested for Genital Herpes?On average, herpes takes about two to 12 days after sexual contact for herpes symptoms to appear. You should get tested for herpes if:You’re experiencing symptoms like sores, flu-like symptoms, and a foul-smelling discharge from the genitals.You’re pregnant and have had a partner with herpes. Pregnant people with herpes do have a small risk of having herpes simplex virushepatitis(HSV hepatitis), which is inflammation of the liver. Pregnant people with herpes can also pass on the virus to their babies.You have multiple sex partners.You’re a man who has sex with men since they are more susceptible to STIs.You have sex with someone with HIV, increasing the chance of transmitting herpes since a weaker immune system can increase and worsen herpes breakouts.
When Should You Get Tested for Genital Herpes?
On average, herpes takes about two to 12 days after sexual contact for herpes symptoms to appear. You should get tested for herpes if:You’re experiencing symptoms like sores, flu-like symptoms, and a foul-smelling discharge from the genitals.You’re pregnant and have had a partner with herpes. Pregnant people with herpes do have a small risk of having herpes simplex virushepatitis(HSV hepatitis), which is inflammation of the liver. Pregnant people with herpes can also pass on the virus to their babies.You have multiple sex partners.You’re a man who has sex with men since they are more susceptible to STIs.You have sex with someone with HIV, increasing the chance of transmitting herpes since a weaker immune system can increase and worsen herpes breakouts.
On average, herpes takes about two to 12 days after sexual contact for herpes symptoms to appear. You should get tested for herpes if:
There are several ways to reduce genital herpes risk, including:
Studies indicate condoms could greatly reduce the chances of transmitting herpes, especially if they cover all areas of an outbreak. Avoiding sharing sex toys and avoiding sex during outbreaks can also minimize the risk of transmitting genital herpes.
A Word From Verywell
Genital herpes transmission can be a worrying subject, especially considering that many people with the disease are not ever diagnosed. Talk to your partner about getting tested and staying safe. Being honest with partners and working with your healthcare provider to stay healthy, especially if you have a weak immune system, is another way to keep you and your partner safer in the future.
Frequently Asked QuestionsHerpes can easily be spread from skin-to-skin contact with a person who has the virus. This contact typically occurs during sex when you touch the genitals and/or mouth of the person with the virus.Learn MoreGenital Herpes (HSV-2): Everything You Need to KnowYes, about 88% of people with herpes in the United States are not aware they have the disease since many people have no symptoms or mild enough symptoms that they are not tested.Learn MoreEffective Treatments for HerpesHerpes takes about two to 12 days to show up after exposure. An outbreak can take two weeks to a month to be healed. Taking antiviral medication can reduce the length of an outbreak and prevent future outbreaks.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Herpes
Herpes can easily be spread from skin-to-skin contact with a person who has the virus. This contact typically occurs during sex when you touch the genitals and/or mouth of the person with the virus.Learn MoreGenital Herpes (HSV-2): Everything You Need to Know
Herpes can easily be spread from skin-to-skin contact with a person who has the virus. This contact typically occurs during sex when you touch the genitals and/or mouth of the person with the virus.
Learn MoreGenital Herpes (HSV-2): Everything You Need to Know
Yes, about 88% of people with herpes in the United States are not aware they have the disease since many people have no symptoms or mild enough symptoms that they are not tested.Learn MoreEffective Treatments for Herpes
Yes, about 88% of people with herpes in the United States are not aware they have the disease since many people have no symptoms or mild enough symptoms that they are not tested.
Learn MoreEffective Treatments for Herpes
Herpes takes about two to 12 days to show up after exposure. An outbreak can take two weeks to a month to be healed. Taking antiviral medication can reduce the length of an outbreak and prevent future outbreaks.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Herpes
Herpes takes about two to 12 days to show up after exposure. An outbreak can take two weeks to a month to be healed. Taking antiviral medication can reduce the length of an outbreak and prevent future outbreaks.
Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Herpes
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.NHS.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.Okafor N, Rosenberg ES, Luisi N, et al.Disparities in herpes simplex virus type 2 infection between black and white men who have sex with men in Atlanta, GA.Int J STD AIDS. 2015;26(10):740-745. doi:10.1177%2F0956462414552814Tao G.Sexual orientation and related viral sexually transmitted disease rates among us women aged 15 to 44 years.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(6):1007-1009. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.112011Magaret AS, Mujugira A, Hughes JP, et al.Effect of condom use on per-act hsv-2 transmission risk in hiv-1, hsv-2-discordant couples.Clin Infect Dis. November 17, 2015:civ908. doi:10.1093/cid/civ908InformedHealth.org.Genital herpes: How can you prevent the spread of herpes in sexual relationships?Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2018.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes screening.Masadeh M, Shen H, Lee Y, et al.A fatal case of herpes simplex virus hepatitis in a pregnant patient.Intractable Rare Dis Res. 2017;6(2):124-127. doi:10.5582/irdr.2017.01013MedlinePlus.Herpes (HSV) test.Planned Parenthood.Oral and genital herpes.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.NHS.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.Okafor N, Rosenberg ES, Luisi N, et al.Disparities in herpes simplex virus type 2 infection between black and white men who have sex with men in Atlanta, GA.Int J STD AIDS. 2015;26(10):740-745. doi:10.1177%2F0956462414552814Tao G.Sexual orientation and related viral sexually transmitted disease rates among us women aged 15 to 44 years.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(6):1007-1009. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.112011Magaret AS, Mujugira A, Hughes JP, et al.Effect of condom use on per-act hsv-2 transmission risk in hiv-1, hsv-2-discordant couples.Clin Infect Dis. November 17, 2015:civ908. doi:10.1093/cid/civ908InformedHealth.org.Genital herpes: How can you prevent the spread of herpes in sexual relationships?Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2018.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes screening.Masadeh M, Shen H, Lee Y, et al.A fatal case of herpes simplex virus hepatitis in a pregnant patient.Intractable Rare Dis Res. 2017;6(2):124-127. doi:10.5582/irdr.2017.01013MedlinePlus.Herpes (HSV) test.Planned Parenthood.Oral and genital herpes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.NHS.Genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.Okafor N, Rosenberg ES, Luisi N, et al.Disparities in herpes simplex virus type 2 infection between black and white men who have sex with men in Atlanta, GA.Int J STD AIDS. 2015;26(10):740-745. doi:10.1177%2F0956462414552814Tao G.Sexual orientation and related viral sexually transmitted disease rates among us women aged 15 to 44 years.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(6):1007-1009. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.112011Magaret AS, Mujugira A, Hughes JP, et al.Effect of condom use on per-act hsv-2 transmission risk in hiv-1, hsv-2-discordant couples.Clin Infect Dis. November 17, 2015:civ908. doi:10.1093/cid/civ908InformedHealth.org.Genital herpes: How can you prevent the spread of herpes in sexual relationships?Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2018.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes screening.Masadeh M, Shen H, Lee Y, et al.A fatal case of herpes simplex virus hepatitis in a pregnant patient.Intractable Rare Dis Res. 2017;6(2):124-127. doi:10.5582/irdr.2017.01013MedlinePlus.Herpes (HSV) test.Planned Parenthood.Oral and genital herpes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes.
NHS.Genital herpes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections prevalence, incidence, and cost estimates in the United States.
Okafor N, Rosenberg ES, Luisi N, et al.Disparities in herpes simplex virus type 2 infection between black and white men who have sex with men in Atlanta, GA.Int J STD AIDS. 2015;26(10):740-745. doi:10.1177%2F0956462414552814
Tao G.Sexual orientation and related viral sexually transmitted disease rates among us women aged 15 to 44 years.Am J Public Health. 2008;98(6):1007-1009. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2007.112011
Magaret AS, Mujugira A, Hughes JP, et al.Effect of condom use on per-act hsv-2 transmission risk in hiv-1, hsv-2-discordant couples.Clin Infect Dis. November 17, 2015:civ908. doi:10.1093/cid/civ908
InformedHealth.org.Genital herpes: How can you prevent the spread of herpes in sexual relationships?Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2018.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital herpes screening.
Masadeh M, Shen H, Lee Y, et al.A fatal case of herpes simplex virus hepatitis in a pregnant patient.Intractable Rare Dis Res. 2017;6(2):124-127. doi:10.5582/irdr.2017.01013
MedlinePlus.Herpes (HSV) test.
Planned Parenthood.Oral and genital herpes.
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