If someone has genital herpes, they can still pass it on to their partner even during symptom-free periods. This is because the herpes virus can live outside of where a condom covers, like on the skin or anal area.
It’s important to be honest and open with your sexual partners about herpes. This is the best way to have a healthy, fulfilling sex life with herpes.
Herpes is contagious during outbreaks.
Herpes is primarily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can spread through blisters and sores in the genital area, anal area, or mouth. Symptoms usually appear within 1 to 2 weeks after sexual exposure. Herpes sores may resemble a pimple or wart and can be painful when touched. They also take a while to heal and can cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, body aches, or swollen glands. The virus can be spread during outbreaks, even when sores are not present.
When herpes is not in an active outbreak, it’s called the latent phase. During the latent stage, the herpes virus is not transmitted and there are no sores or lesions. Herpes can still be transmitted through close contact, such as touching the affected areas or sharing saliva or semen.
Once a person is infected with herpes, the virus lives in nerve endings near the spine until it’s triggered to resurface and cause an outbreak. During an outbreak, the virus is shedding from the nerves and can be absorbed into body fluids that come in contact with the skin, such as semen, saliva, or vaginal fluids. This is why it’s so important to use condoms during sexual intercourse and foreplay.
The only way to completely prevent herpes transmission is to abstain from sexual activity or only engage in sex in a monogamous relationship with a partner who tests negative for herpes. Condoms can help reduce the risk of herpes transmission by about 50 percent when used properly. Latex condoms and dental dams can also be used to help reduce the risk of herpes transmission during oral sex.
Herpes is contagious during symptom-free periods.
If someone has genital herpes but no sores are present, they can still pass the virus to their partner during sex. Herpes can be spread through kissing, direct contact (such as when a person with herpes touches their genitals or anal area), and foreplay such as oral sex and rubbing. In addition, herpes viruses can be shed in small amounts from the body even when no sores are present (called asymptomatic shedding).
It’s best to avoid sex during an outbreak, even with a condom, because there may be sores that the condom doesn’t cover. However, for many people, avoiding sex isn’t possible or desirable.
People who have herpes can have sex safely by using a latex condom, washing their hands after sex, and practicing safe lubrication. They should also use a dental dam for oral-vaginal and oral-anal sex, and avoid touching the genitals or anus. They should also take antiviral medications every day.
Some people with herpes have been able to maintain hot and fulfilling sex relationships by always using a condom and by telling their partners about their herpes. However, this requires ongoing internal work — redefining and challenging negative thoughts about herpes and finding people who affirm them and their right to pleasure. It’s important to find a balance that works for you and your partner.
Herpes is contagious during pregnancy.
Genital herpes is a virus that can cause sores or blisters on the skin and genitals. It’s one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Herpes can be passed to an unborn baby during pregnancy, birth, or shortly afterward. Women with herpes can prevent the virus from spreading to their unborn babies by skipping sex when they have sores and by using a condom for the first day after sores clear up. They can also take antiviral medication during outbreaks to help reduce symptoms.
If a woman has herpes and is pregnant, doctors will usually recommend a vaginal delivery rather than a C-section. They can monitor the baby for signs of herpes, such as a high fever or a rash, and will treat any active herpes with medications. The risk of herpes passing to a baby is low, but the decision to have a caesarian section needs to be weighed against other risks for both mother and baby.
A woman who has herpes for the first time late in her pregnancy can’t expect to have a healthy baby. If she catches herpes during labor and delivery, the virus can spread to the baby’s organs. This is called disseminated herpes, and it’s very dangerous for the baby. Even with prompt treatment, babies that get disseminated herpes often have severe long-term health problems and development issues.
Herpes is contagious during breastfeeding.
If a woman has genital herpes and is breastfeeding, she should always use a water-based lubricant before having sex. This will help reduce friction that could lead to outbreaks. It is also a good idea to talk to your doctor about using daily herpes antiviral medication as an additional way to protect against infection. This can significantly reduce the frequency of herpes outbreaks and reduce the amount of virus that is shed in saliva.
Women who have genital herpes should not have sex during an outbreak, even with a condom. This is because the herpes virus can live outside the area that a condom covers and may still transmit infection. A woman who is breastfeeding should also avoid kissing her baby or holding them close to her sores, as the virus can be spread this way.
Babies who are born to mothers with active herpes can get neonatal herpes, a severe and sometimes life-threatening infection. Neonatal herpes occurs when the baby’s immune system doesn’t develop antibodies to fight the herpes virus. Most babies who get neonatal herpes will recover with treatment, but it can be fatal for some. Newborns can also get herpes through the nipple, but this is very rare. Women with herpes who breastfeed should express and discard the milk from the nipple where the lesions are, and should wash her hands thoroughly before touching the baby.
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