Does first episode genital herpes have an incubation period? A clinical study

A restrospective survey of the notes of 146 patients with culture-positive first episode genital herpes simplex infection produced 37 men and 37 women in whom the incubation period could be established from their own and their partners' notes. In 9 patients the period was 1-12 days, in 20 men it ranged from 1 to 49 days and in 11 women from 1 to 28 days. In 7 patients it was much longer. In 28 patients a first episode of genital herpes developed during an ongoing monogamous relationship. These findings indicate that the incubation period of genital herpes may be longer than hitherto recognized and have implications for counselling and control.