At this time, the virus is traveling from your skin into the nerves near your spine, where it rests until something makes it cause more symptoms. Shedding stage The virus starts multiplying in the nerves. It can then get into body fluids, such as saliva, semen or vaginal fluids. This is called shedding. There are no symptoms during this stage, but the virus can be spread during this time.
Many people have blisters and sores that come back after the first herpes attack goes away.
This is called a recurrence. Usually, the symptoms aren't as bad as they were during the first attack. Stress, being sick or being tired may start a recurrence. Being in the sun or having your menstrual period may also cause a recurrence. You may know when a recurrence is about to happen because you may feel itching, tingling or pain in the places where you were first infected.