We didnt discuss complicated stories that make it impossible to know which person gave herpes to the other person. Most commonly, the doctor is not able to make this determination. The take-home message is this: dont be quick to judge, and dont assume your partner has cheated on you.

Can you tell when you contracted herpes?

People may notice the first symptoms of herpes around 2–20 days after contracting the infection. In some cases, however, people may have the herpes virus for many years before noticing any symptoms. The main symptoms of herpes are sores around the mouth or genitals and flu-like symptoms including headache and fatigue.