How soon can safe unprotected sex resume after a genital herpes lesion appears without drug administration? What is the typical length of time required for genital herpes lesions to heal and become non-contagious so that unprotected sex can be resumed confidently?

Unprotected sex is never 100% safe in terms of transmitting herpes. The virus is capable of being transmitted regardless of whether you are suffering from an outbreak or not. In fact, the virus can be transmitted during protected sex as well. A person with herpes can never consider themselves "non-contagious". The virus is capable of being transmitted during an outbreak, or when the infected partner is shedding. However, it is impossible to tell when a person is shedding, so they must be considered contagious at all times.