I’m 47 year old active, fit, woman. I’ve had 3 partners in life, one my ex husband of 23 years, 2 since divorcing.  Seven months ago I tested positive (IGG)for Herpes type 2/negative for type 1. I just got retested with the exact same results.  I’d been with a man who 2 days after intercourse he developed  a cold sore (not a new thing for him).  I was experiencing sensitivity in genital area (no sores or visible problems), I panicked and unfortunately got tested. The positive results were surprising to me and GYN since symptoms weren’t  classic for Herpes.  I continue to have these symptoms (7 months now) although they’ve  improved somewhat over the months.  Symptoms are: intermittent (can go days without) skin sensitivity in genital area, mostly around anus, perineum, and bottom of outer labia.  Sometimes the feeling of sores, but there is nothing.  I’ve been examined with normal results numerous times at GYN visits. Feels better without underwear when home, some days better with pantyliner, can have no discomfort one minute, then it comes on.  It makes no sense. When this first started I also had the feeling of inflammation of the labia minora and any clothing was very uncomfortable, I no longer have that problem.  I’ve tried steroid creams, 1 month on an anti viral, tested for bacterial infection (negative), nerve medication for  1 month,  changed soaps, detergents, toilet paper,  went off BCP’s thinking maybe a hormonal problem.  Only time has given improvement but not full relief.  Also, I seem to get hemorrhoids more frequently than before.  My GYN and Internal Medicine doctors don’t think these symptoms are related to Herpes but they do not know what it is.  Doctor is suggesting going back on Valacyclovir for 2 months.  She says if symptoms go away that would indicate they’re related to Herpes and if they don’t, not related. Question is, does it seem possible these are herpes related symptoms?  I don’t like medications and am concerned about taking an antiviral when I’m not, nor have I ever had, outbreaks. I’m concerned the medicine will cause me to start having outbreaks.

The test I had done in June 2015 read Herpes 2 Ab.(IgG) >8.0/Herpes Simp 1/2 (IgM) 1.16------The test I had done a couple weeks ago reads HSV-2 IgG >5.00/Herpes Simplex IgM 1.51 (supposedly this was a western blot test)

A couple other things that may be helpful...I forgot to mention that for the past year or so I will occasionally get a weird feeling in genital/anal area, lasts for about 60 seconds...a kinda hot/cold feeling in area about size of dime at most.  Always thought it was a nerve thing, maybe a pinched nerve as I do have some lumbar herniation and am very active as a personal trainer.  Those sensations have come and gone and mostly gone for the past few months.

Also, the skin sensitivity is very hard to explain...sometimes just feels like an irritation to clothing, sometimes really feels like I might have raw skin or sores, but I inspect myself constantly with a magnifying mirror, occasionally a little 'redness' but nothing more. I can have a day where an area feels really irritated and next day its gone.

I have wondered if it's possible these symptoms could be some kind of nerve (pudendal nerve-?) issue given the inconsistency of symptoms.  And although I cannot say for absolute sure it seems like symptoms may be slightly worse for week or 2 before starting period.