Shelley - You may very well have had herpes simplex in your body for many years, but it took a stressor to cause the breakout. Ouch, I sympathize - it can be so painful! Probably the reason doctors don't talk about it is because it is so common, and except for severely immuno-compromised people, it is only a minor inconvenience.

I have had herpes simplex and cold sores since childhood and can go years between serious outbreaks, but once started it often takes a course of antiviral medication to stop it. My brother breaks out from exposure to the sun, my daughter from eating ANY pineapple. I had a particularly bad outbreak when my body equilibrium was disrupted by long term antibiotic therapy and my IgG was high, but after the therapy ended it fell to normal again.

If it happens to you again, you can ask your provider for a course of antiviral medication - a typical one is acyclovir.