when am i not contagious with herpes?
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You can spread the virus even when you don't have any symptoms of a cold sore, though you're usually most contagious when you have them. However, this is much less likely than if contact occurred when a cold sore was present. Cold sores are contagious until they go away completely, which usually takes about two weeks.
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Do not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex — even with a condom. Wait until seven days after the sore heals. The virus can spread from sores not covered by the condom.
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If sores do arise, they typically go away within two to three weeks, but the virus stays in the body for life. In addition to sores, women may experience a smelly vaginal discharge with herpes.
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If you have shingles, you are contagious until the last blister has scabbed over. This will usually occur after about 10 to 14 days.
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Herpes can only be passed through direct skin-to-skin contact with the infected area such as kissing, oral sex, genital-to-genital rubbing, vaginal, and anal sex. Herpes (both oral & genital) can be spread even when there are no symptoms or sores. This is called asymptomatic shedding.
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Timeline of symptoms In other cases, the first symptoms can appear around 2–10 days after a person contracts the virus. The first outbreak of herpes can last for around 2–4 weeks. After this time, the sores will gradually heal without leaving any scars.
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HSV-1 isn't a big deal. But it's a good idea to try to keep cold sores as far away as possible. If someone you know has a cold sore: Don't kiss him or her.
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They're usually caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and less commonly herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both of these viruses can affect your mouth or genitals and can be spread by oral sex. Cold sores are contagious even if you don't see the sores.
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Once a person has contracted HSV, they can transmit the virus even during dormant periods when there are no visible sores or other symptoms. The risk of transmitting the virus when it's dormant is less. But it's still a risk, even for people who are receiving treatment for HSV.
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A baby is most at risk of getting a herpes infection in the first 4 weeks after birth. You should not kiss a baby if you have a cold sore to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Cold sores and other blisters caused by the herpes virus are at their most contagious when they burst.
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Many people with genital herpes won't get any symptoms, or may get symptoms for the first time months or even years after they were infected. For most people, the blisters go away within one to two weeks. Although the outbreaks clear-up by themselves, the virus stays in the body.
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Herpes is easily spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus. You can get it when your genitals and/or mouth touch their genitals and/or mouth — usually during oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
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Most people who have genital herpes have no symptoms, or have very mild symptoms. You may not notice mild symptoms or you may mistake them for another skin condition, such as a pimple or ingrown hair. Because of this, most people who have herpes do not know it.
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Your first outbreak can happen anywhere from 2 to 20 days after you're infected. After that, you may never have another outbreak again. Or you may find that you get one several weeks or months later. There's no way to know for sure how often you'll get outbreaks — it's different for every person with herpes.
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In some cases, a person with herpes may not experience any symptoms of the virus for many years. In other cases, the first symptoms can appear around 2–10 days after a person contracts the virus. The first outbreak of herpes can last for around 2–4 weeks.
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Do not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex — even with a condom. Wait until seven days after the sore heals. The virus can spread from sores not covered by the condom. It can also spread in sweat or vaginal fluids to places the condom doesn't cover.
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Transmission. Share on Pinterest Cold sores may be contagious for up to 15 days. The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is what causes cold sores. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in the United States, HSV-1 infects more than 50% of people by the time they reach their 20s.