Is Genital Herpes Contagious? How Does Herpes Spread?

In over 95 percent of cases, herpes is contagious through skin-to-skin contact with people with the Herpes simplex virus. Herpes can be transmitted if one touches an infected blister or sore, usually through sexual intercourse. These sores appear as small lesions or tiny red bumps filled with fluid.

Contrary to popular belief, one does not get herpes through mere contact with vaginal fluids, semen, blood or saliva. Also, unlike the flu virus, herpes virus is not airborne, meaning; one cannot simply get herpes by being in the same enclosed room with an infected person.

Is genital herpes contagious even without sexual contact?

Several forms of intimacy make genital herpes contagious. An infected person can pass on the genital herpes virus to another person through oral sex, when the cold sore on the person’s mouth gets into contact with his or her partner’s genital region (mouth to genital contact).

HSV-1 (a type of herpes) usually infects the genital area during oral sex, while HSV-2 may be transmitted through both anal and vaginal sex.
Is genital herpes contagious even when there are no symptoms present?
Herpes is at its most contagious when the blisters are open and oozing fluid which contains millions of herpes simplex virus particles. This phase is called an active genital herpes outbreak. Taking medication during the herpes outbreak can help speed up the healing process. As the blisters heal, the amount of virus particles diminishes.

While the presence of herpes sores or lesions makes it easier to tell if someone has the disease and if the person is having an outbreak and therefore able to infect another person, 8 out of 10 people who have herpes do not show any symptoms at all. This means that even without the tell-tale herpes symptoms, an infected person may still transmit the virus to his partner. This is the tricky part of this disease.

A person may not show the symptoms right away after getting the herpes virus. It is possible for the herpes simplex virus to lay dormant in the body for several years before the first symptoms appear. Also, some people with herpes may dismiss the symptoms because they are not as obvious or serious as the herpes symptoms they hear or read about.

When lesions are present, remember that there are still herpes virus particles present in the blisters at the latter part of the outbreak. It is only when the skin has fully healed that it can be considered that the contagious phase of herpes is over.

Whether herpes symptoms are present or not, some people may be more effective carriers of herpes than others and this improves the chances of making genital herpes contagious. Preventing the spread of the disease is the main responsibility of the infected person, but if you believe you have touched someone who has herpes, washing the exposed areas carefully is one way you can protect yourself.

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