Question:
I have been monogamously married for 10 years, and suddenly had an 'outbreak.' Never having anything like this before, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed. Shocked to say the least. My question is, could my husband or myself carried this over from our single days and I am just now having an outbreak, or does this mean my husband recently picked this up somewhere and gave it to me??? I asked my dr. this, and he was evasive at best. I need to know before I talk to him.

Answer:
Herpes can lay dormant for years and not show. Usually if this is the case the outbreak is due to significant life changing event.

More than likely though your husband probably picked this up somewhere else, or he was positive for many years and didn't know it then passed it onto you recently. The question becomes if he did cheat on you and give this to you do you want to leave him?

If you decide that you would want to stay with him anyways give him an easy out by saying I don't know how we got this, the doctor says it can lay dormant for years.

If you really do want to know the truth you should just say look I know I got this from you, I know we have been having problems, is your affair still going on.

How you phrase the question will probably lead to the answer and honest of the response.

Answer:
A blood test will tell whether it's a recently acquired infection by the number of antibodies in the blood. What type of test did you have done... a culture test or a blood test? The same would be true if your husband had a blood test done.

I know it's true that sometimes people cheat on their spouses, but it's also possible that either one of you could have been carrying the virus dormantly for a long time, or had such mild symptoms that they weren't recognized for what they were. It happens, so I wouldn't jump to any conclusions, if I were you, until you've talked to him about it. Accusing a spouse of being unfaithful is something you don't want to do unless you have something to base it on.

Answer:
I had my first outbreak while I was on a vacation. I had been taking strong antibiotics prior to and during my vacation. The combo of intense sun and powerful antibiotics caused me to have my first outbreak.

I knew I was exposed because my ex-bf mentioned he had it after we were together 10 months. As far as not showing up in my body, Had he not told me, I think I could have been one to carry this virus for a long time without having had a clue I was carrying it. The meds and sun were what triggered it for me. I haven't had an outbreak since.

My time line happened to be 1 & 1/2 years after first being exposed by the boyfriend. We were together 10 months and broken up about 8 months when I had my first and only ob.

Answer:
I know how you feel, but I haven't been married nearly as long.

I'm less than a month away from my 2 year wedding anniversary and I was just diagnosed with HSV-1. Husband has never had any signs of herpes, and he doesn't recall any of his previous partners having signs. He's the only person i've ever been with.

Good luck to you.