How Soon Can You Be Tested for a New Herpes Infection

Did you have unprotected sex last night? Do you have symptoms of a new herpes infection? Well it won't be from what you contracted. Infections have to incubate before they are detected. For each STD there is a known incubation time. So unprotected sex may land you a few trips to the gyno to see what can be both prevented, and then diagnosed, and/or treated. Incubation rates of infections vary. In fact we've not really nailed why some women will test positive so quickly after catching a new infection of any particular STD. The incubation period for herpes is usually 2-10 days. But new onset of symptoms may be a new infection, or it may be a reactivation of a silent infection you never knew you had. Your gyno can help you figure this out.