Question:
my wife and i have been together for 3 years, recently after a routine physical the doc mentioned that i was positive for herpes antibodies, his words were you have been exposed. i have never had any type of outbreak and neither has my wife. could this be something that i have had since before we were married? and if so, if i have not had anytype of outbreak in 3 years am i still contagious? if so why havnt i given it to her in the last 3 years? could i still?

Answer:
yes EXTREMELY possible to have it for years without outbreaks....same case with me and my boyfriend.... he had it without symptoms for years and never knew....like you....no symptoms ...never gave it to me for 3 years of having unprotected sex so like you we thought it was not even possible for him to have had it. Turns out it is way more possible than anyone thinks. It is very common to have it, have no symptoms and not pass it on for years never knowing. There are many explanations as to why you never gave it to her such as the fact that the virus was not active in your body and therefore was not traveling to your skin to make you contagious. Also, there is asymptomatic shedding but it is possible to not shed the virus if it is totally inactive in your body for periods of time. There is also the explanation that if you ever were shedding the virus without symptoms...the percentage of time you were shedding was small enough that she happened to not get it. Also, lets say if you were shedding only a few days each year, if at all, then the probability of her getting it during one of those random days each year is very low. Ive read many stories identical to yours, also know one couple....same thing but married 15 years.....crazy huh? also my personal case so yes it is way more common than people know or think. It is the extreme miseducation of herpes that leaves people in such disbelief as to how this virus actually can operate a lot of the time. Oh, and about if you are contagious: yes you are so you have to inform people....however, it for you it seems like less of a chance to pass it on without symptoms but dont be surprised if you do pass it on soon or if your significant other already is positive for antibodies as well. Be glad you dont have outbreaks yet but know that one day you may get one out of nowhere when the virus decides to activate and travel the nerve pathways to your skin. Take precautions now that you know but if you have been with your partner this long and have not passed it to them yet then you still could. I mean look at my case...3 years of unprotected sexual contact at the time I contracted it from him and we both were blown away that something like that was possible....basically, it is inevitable that without protection you will in time pass it on.....maybe a few weeks, months, or years down the line but the probability increases the longer you are together. don't sweat it for now though.....you have a significant other and have been together this long....have them get tested and take it from there. Good luck :)

Answer:
yes EXTREMELY possible to have it for years without outbreaks....same case with me and my boyfriend.... he had it without symptoms for years and never knew Boxofrain, how does one decide to trust a partner's answer that "they never knew they were HSV+"?