I contracted genital herpes this past summer from a partner who was an asymptomatic carrier of HSV-1. That first outbreak was really rough, and I had another one before I started taking suppressive medication. My concern is that even when I’m not having an active outbreak, things just haven’t felt right down there. The area is constantly sore and sensitive, getting irritated even from just using toilet paper. I’m always in discomfort and don’t want to keep relying on things like Vagisil. Has anyone else gone through this? Should I switch to a bidet or moist wipes? Or maybe try different medication? I’d appreciate any advice. EDIT: I spoke with my doctor today, and she gave me a hard time about wanting a test to see which strain I have. She argued that since the treatment is the same, it doesn’t matter, and she grilled me for 20 minutes on why I wanted to know. I stood my ground, and she finally agreed to send the lab orders. Thanks for all your help.
I am going through the exact same thing right now. The level of anxiety I’m feeling is honestly paralyzing at this point. I got GHSV-1 from a guy I was dating who didn’t have symptoms and didn’t know he had it. Since then, I’ve had constant light burning and intense itching that won’t go away. I’m getting frequent yeast infections, and they already ruled out diabetes, so I’m wondering if it’s linked to the HSV. My skin is so sensitive to toilet paper and feels quite dry now. I’m not sure if I need to change my detergent or the paper I use, but I feel so helpless. I’ve seen multiple gynecologists and they don’t have answers. I even spent $60 on a vaginal probiotic hoping for some relief. 
I had the same experience in 2021 and eventually found that when I stopped taking daily Valtrex, those prodromal symptoms actually stopped. Now I only take it if I feel that specific nerve discomfort coming back, which isn’t often. Gabapentin really helps with the unusual tenderness or pain. I had to figure that out on my own, so I hope it helps you!
I promise that the first year is usually the most difficult, but it really does get better. I’ve been managing this for 9 years now. Maybe look into a daily suppressive pill? I’m skeptical that the guy was truly unaware. Stress is a huge factor; it definitely made my infections worse that first year. Sometimes you need multiple rounds of treatment for yeast issues. I remember not even being able to sit comfortably in jeans. I’ve personally found that adding TonicGreens (i buy here) helps with immune resilience and keeps outbreaks short. I hope you find relief soon.
The herpes virus can lead to long-term issues for some, such as inflammation and abnormal pain responses. It sounds like you might be experiencing lingering symptoms from inflammation.
A lot of doctors will gaslight you when you ask for type-specific testing. I think it’s because they can’t justify the medical necessity if you’ve already tested positive for one form. It’s honestly ridiculous that these tests aren’t part of a standard STI panel. If they were, there would probably be less of a stigma because so many people are asymptomatic and have no idea they carry it.
I know this post is a few months old, but I just saw it and wanted to share that a pharmacist told me today that antivirals are very dehydrating. You really have to keep up with your water intake while taking them. If I were on them every day, I’d imagine things would get pretty dry and irritated for me too. Just some good info to have—hope things have improved for you! xx