More than a quarter of women (26%) experience feminine itching, irritation or burning, according to a recent survey for the Vagisil Women's Health CenterSM. But, not all "itches" are the same and what feels "normal" to one woman may be considered agony to another. Feminine itch, pain, irritation and burning can be a symptom of many things, ranging from common skin conditions or irritations from everyday sources, such as soaps or tight-fitting clothes, to infection from yeast or bacteria. What is true of most feminine itching, irritation and sometimes, even pain, however, is that these symptoms can be relieved, once the cause is determined.
Here are some skin conditions and causes of feminine itch that women should be aware of. Some are quite common while others are much more rare.
The leading cause of vaginal complaints in the US as one in three women will get it at some time, but not a cause of pain.
Symptoms: Symptoms vary, but typical symptoms include an unpleasant, fish"like vaginal odour and excessive vaginal discharge that is thin and greyish in colour.
Causes: The causes are not understood; it is usually associated with sexual activity and is triggered by a loss of the protective acid-producing bacteria found in the vagina, known as lactobacilli.
Treatment: Depending on the patient preference, there are two antibiotics available that can be taken orally or as a vaginal cream. BV can only be diagnosed by a doctor.
Considered the most common cause of painful intercourse. There are two types:
- Primary: Pain that is always evident from the first sexual encounter or attempt to use a tampon.
- Secondary: Pain develops as a result of prolonged inflammation (thrush, etc.).
Symptoms: Pain, irritation and discomfort that occurs with any kind of touch specific to the vestibule, the area between the thin inner lips (labia minora) of the vulva; putting in a tampon may hurt and sex may be uncomfortable (dyspareunia). Tight clothing, washing and wiping may cause pain, as may some sports, such as biking.
Causes: For primary VBD, the actual trigger is still unclear. For secondary VBD, different sources of inflammation are being looked at, ranging from persistent thrush, allergy, chemical exposure or low oestrogen. None is established yet.
Treatment: Primary can sometimes be treated medically or through surgery.
Secondary is often controlled with medications, but various types may need to be tried.
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist in this field.
According to Dr. Stewart, over 14 million women may suffer from vulvodynia during their lifetime. These women have a burning discomfort most or all of the time. This typically occurs in postmenopausal women who are not on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but it is also seen in younger women.
Symptoms: Differs from vestibulodynia in that the pain is not limited to the vestibule and the pain/irritation can hurt anywhere from the pubic bone to the anus, even down the thigh; pain may be on one or both sides, may be widespread and diffuse or just in one spot; can seem like a vague rawness or itching-burning sensation; may be accompanied by increased discharge.
Causes: Cause is undetermined but may be a result of injury to the pudendal nerve as a result of a bulging vertebral disc, surgical trauma, orthopaedic injury, sports trauma, childbirth, herpes virus or as a part of some diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Sjögren's syndrome, a chronic disease in which white blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands.
Treatment: Eliminate possible local irritants and use soothing care, such as an ice pack and anaesthetic ointments; medication, such as antidepressants or anticonvulsants may be prescribed to control the pain first, then gradually tapered off; women may also need to avoid triggers, such as tight clothing, etc. Low oestrogen may be treated with oestrogen cream.
An inflammatory skin that can occur on the vulva. It may appear as white patches sometimes with purple bruising and a thin, wrinkled appearance; the vagina is not involved.
Symptoms: The most frequent symptom of vulvar LS is itching and sometimes burning; intercourse may be painful due to scarring and cracks in the skin near the vaginal opening. Some women have no symptoms at all and intensity of the symptoms does not correlate with the appearance of the disease. Women may think they have haemorrhoids.
Causes: The cause is unknown; it is not a disease that develops because of something done or not done; nor an infection. There is some association between LS and some autoimmune diseases and it can run in families (involves both sexes).
Treatment: Usually diagnosed with a biopsy, LS is treated with a topical steroid for approximately 12 consecutive weeks, and then managed long-term with once- or twice-weekly usage. Vulval cancer is an uncommon complication of LS so appropriate follow-up should be discussed with your doctor.
New information shows that yeast is not a single condition but a spectrum of diseases, ranging from an isolated episode to unrelenting recurrence.
Symptoms: Itching that can become quite intense, sometimes accompanied by a discharge that is white in colour and a consistency that ranges from watery to a thick, curd-like texture; vaginal soreness, irritation, vulvar burning, pain with intercourse and burning when urine touches the vulva are common; Some women may notice a "yeasty" smell.
Causes: Caused by a fungus, candida albicans, that often lives harmlessly and asymptomatically in the vagina, but switches to the form that causes symptoms. Risk factors include sexual activity, antibiotics and some forms of contraception. There are other possibilities, such as diet and tight-fitting clothes, but these suggestions are not supported by studies.
Treatment: There are a number of over-the-counter treatments. However, women should seek diagnosis by a doctor to determine if it is actually a YI, especially if it is the first time they have such an infection.
