Is it true that theres no such thing as safe sex?

[Ansdr22]

My mom said she tested positive for Herpes but its still uncertain, but she hasn't been sexually active in about 14 years. She told me that when you get herpes it takes 10 years to become active in your body and show signs. Then a book i was reading said that there was no such things as safe sex because of this. Is this true?? It scares me because it makes me wonder, what if i somehow get it in the future, i would never know until 10 years, and what if i passed it on to someone, they would never know until 10 years either. Is this true, does this really mean there is no such thing as safe sex.

[DidisMirage]

You can know by blood in 3 months post exposure with a type-specific herpes test or sooner if you blister and get it cultured within a good time frame. You can catch herpes even if you wear a condom but condoms reduce transmission, and you can catch herpes via oral sex.

[gracefromHHP]

How was your mom tested for herpes? Does she have it orally or genitally?  Does she have hsv1 or hsv2?

It's not unusual to be infected and not notice the signs of infection. It's actually far more common than getting a "classic" herpes ob when first infected and knowing from the gitgo that you have it.  Over 90% of folks who have genital herpes - have no idea they are tested.

As didismirage already pointed out - you don't have to wait up to 10 years to find out if you have herpes or not - usually 3 months is all it takes - 6 months max.

And no there is no such thing as safe sex. There is safer sex but nothing is 100% safe.  

As I recently said on another board - why is it that we go to school/work everyday and expect to get colds,flu, gi bugs etc just from being near folks and touching things they've touched but we are shocked when we are naked and exchanging multiple body fluids with someone and contraqt anything? Makes no sense at all.  

grace