Severe itching and burning in the vagina can begin to disturb a woman at any age. As a rule, these unpleasant sensations are accompanied by reddening of the mucous membrane of the vulva. The resulting discomfort causes a woman to comb the itchy area, this leads to the appearance of wounds. Injured skin is an entry gate for microorganisms that cause inflammation with further ulceration.
It should be understood that itching and burning are just symptoms that do not occur on their own. They are the result of any irritating factors. These can range from minor external irritants (such as poor hygiene) to serious illnesses. Therefore, severe itching and burning in the vagina should not be tolerated. Self-treatment often only leads to aggravation of the problem, chronicity and progression of the disease (if any). To find out the causes of itching, you need to consult a doctor. Only a specialist, on the basis of the studies carried out, will be able to choose an adequate treatment.
Causes of itching and burning in the vagina
The causes of itching and burning in the vagina include the following:
A disease caused by fungi of the genus Candida – thrush or candidiasis. Symptoms associated with itching and burning are cheesy and abundant discharge, which has a thick consistency.
An allergic reaction to possible multiple irritants: drugs, food, intimate hygiene products, the secret of a sexual partner, etc. It is known that exposure to a local irritant always provokes itching in a characteristic area.
Sexually transmitted diseases, among which the most common are: syphilis, gonorrhea, donovanosis, soft chancre, venereal lymphogranuloma.
The disease caused by chlamydia is female chlamydia. In addition to itching and burning, the patient is concerned about discharge and fever. With regard to pain, they range from minor to intense.
Infection with ureaplasmas and mycoplasmas can lead to itching in the vagina.
With genital herpes, there is also some discomfort in this area. In addition, the disease is accompanied by abundant painful rashes in the genital area.
Cervicitis and endometritis, which are often complications of genital infections, can also cause burning itching in the vagina. An irritating effect has an increased amount of exudate produced by the inflamed cervical mucosa or the uterus itself.
Kraurosis of the vulva. With this disease, itching occurs near the entrance to the vagina, which is associated with age-related changes in the body of a woman.
Also, such a pathological process as atrophy of the vaginal mucosa may be associated with menopausal changes.
Oncological diseases of the female reproductive system – malignant and benign processes can cause itching and burning in the vagina. It is possible that discomfort in the intimate area is associated with myoma, fibroma, cyst or polyp of the uterus, cervix, ovaries.
Diabetes mellitus can cause itching in the vaginal area.
The cause of itching and burning sometimes become pathologies of the thyroid gland, diseases of the liver and kidneys.
Itching can be provoked by frequent and severe stress, mental illness, diseases of the nervous system, serious emotional overload, depressive disorders, etc.
Itching in the vestibule of the vagina can provoke helminths and pubic lice.
Blood diseases such as: leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis can cause itching.
Violation of the rules of intimate hygiene can cause itching in the vagina. Moreover, both insufficient and excessive hygiene is dangerous.
Microcracks that appear as a result of a deterioration in the functioning of the mucous membranes can be the result of malnutrition. It is possible that a woman suffering from itching in the vagina is overly fond of diets and suffers from beriberi.
[Video] Gynecologist Ekaterina Volkova – Why genital itching occurs:
As for the self-administration of medicines and douching, such activities should not be practiced. Many doctors generally categorically oppose douching, even if a particular disease is detected. Moreover, you should not do them without appropriate recommendations.