The first symptoms appear within 2 to 12 days after infection. Asymptomatic viral shedding is probably common. If you have symptoms, the most common test is a viral culture. To perform this test, your physician must take a sample from a lesion, preferably on the first day. There is no cure for herpes, but there are medications which help to keep the virus in check.
Current medications are safe and have few side effects.
Suppressive therapy greatly reduces the number of outbreaks for most people, and can prevent outbreaks altogether for some. Abstain from sex when signs and symptoms of genital herpes are present. Tell your partner if you have herpes. Use condoms between recurrences of herpes. Condoms offer useful protection against unrecognized herpes by protecting the mucous membranes that are the most likely sites of transmission.