Genital herpes is caused by sexual contact and activities. You can have herpes and not test positive if you aren't currently active with an outbreak when you're tested. Yes, it is possible to have herpes and not have the physical outbreak. The physical outbreak is a symptom of the disease, but not the disease itself. Herpes lies dormant in your lower spine until you are active with outbreak. I, personally, get outbreaks but they don't come with blisters on my vagina or anus; mine comes in the form of the tingling sensation accompanied by flu like symptoms that last about two weeks. The worst part for me is getting a fever, but once that breaks, I'm on my way back up. It makes it a little more difficult when you don't get the blisters, because you have to be very in tune with your body so that you know when you're contagious and when you are not. Because herpes is dormant, it's not been documented to have been passed when you're not having an outbreak. As I started earlier, you won't even test positive for it. I was sexually active with my ex, not always using protection, for years and he never contracted anything because he could tell when I was getting ready to have an outbreak even before I could. I don't know how he was able to do that, but it was great because I didn't have to say it myself. He just didn't bother me for sex.... Not everyone's is the same, and there's not very much knowledge about herpes. But I've had it 19 yrs now. I've noticed that if you eat right, take care of yourself, definitely keep your body clean, and try not to stress a lot, you can learn to manage it. I don't take medications, just make my own at home from natural resources, and I might get one outbreak a year, but it's not unusual for me to go several years without one. Herpes is a very taboo disease, but actually 1 in every 6 people have it. They just won't let you know it, and that's how it keeps getting spread, because people are not honest. I hope I said something that helps.