Question:
I'm wondering if it is possible to be exposed to HSV-2 and develop antibodies without actually contracting the virus itself. I've never had an outbreak and yet I have tested positive for antibodies.

Answer:
No.

There is no reason that your body would develop antibodies unless you have been exposed to the virus.

Answer:
I have some questions I'd like to ask.

My spouse has herpes type 2 and we've been together for a number of years. We've refrained from any activity during her outbreaks. I've read that shedding only happens a few days a year so my chances of getting it then too are limited. I've never had an outbreak and recently had a Herpes Select test (IGG) for type 1 and 2. My results came back <.90 which, according to the doctor/lab means I don't have either.

Is there some way the virus could be dormant and thus give these results? Do the antibodies only increase AFTER an outbreak occurs or should they show up whether I've had an outbreak or not? If I do have it and it is dormant for now, can I pass it on through shedding (saliva, or seminal fluid - i.e. masturbation rather than sex?). I plan on having another test after eliminating activity for a while. I am still researching how to have 'safe sex' before doing it again. Any suggestions on that too would be helpful.

Thanks.

Answer:
You can have a false negative (you get a negative result but you are really positive). The rate of false negative results varies on the test done... Antibody levels can fall below the level of detection for most of the commonly done tests, and if for some reason you do have HSV and it activates somewhat (you can still show no symptoms) your antibody levels would increase, hopefully enough for detection.

However, you really might not have it. Men do catch it less from women than the other way around, so it's possible your time just hasn't come yet. I read a stat somewhere that said 4/100 men will get it compared to 10/100 women in a year if discordant couples refrain from sex during outbreaks. Eventually it is presumed that in discordant couples transmission would take place, but some people are just more resistant to ever catching this, and some people shed less than others, etc, so there are so many unknowns.

Good luck, hope you don't catch it, but hope you and your wife have a good enough relationship to weather through whatever happens...

Answer:
You have obviously been responsible, sexually speaking. You can only get the virus when she has the "symptoms" and I will include sores and any tenderness of the skin that is discomfort. You have respected this and don't have the virus. You know you don't have it, because you are consciously aware of getting it.

The antibodies are created already in your wife's body. She is consistently fighting the virus back into it's "home" at the base of her spine. It is when she is weakened by another physical illness that the antibodies are weakened and focused on the other weakness, and she may have outbreak. It is also possible that she is under long periods of stress, which stimulates the nervous system and triggers the virus from the base of the spine, that she may experience symptoms.

It appears from your note that your wife is healthy and happy. There is no need to worry about yourself, because it seems like you two are doing the right thing!

There is plenty of scientific literature available and even this website is quite helpful. "The Truth about Herpes" book is also good resource.

Keep Smiling, Be Happy!

Answer:
and you can also get it when people have absolutely no symptoms. viral shedding can occur when there is absolutely no prodromal symptoms, tingling, or anything at all detectable.

Doctors used to tell people that you can only get it when you have symptoms or tingling or tenderness or whatever, but know it is known that that is incorrect. People who do STD research have taken swabs from people and compared this to any symptoms (whether outbreaks or just tingles, tenderness, itching, burning, etc), and people shed virus and are contagious even when they feel 100% fine.