Itching and burning of the labia in women most often occurs for two reasons. The first is infectious lesions, many of which are sexually transmitted, and also occur when hygiene rules are not followed. If a woman has discharge with an unpleasant odor, then in this case, the cause of itching of the labia minora is infection. It is impossible to determine the disease by the smell and appearance of the discharge. In order to accurately diagnose and prescribe effective treatment, the doctor must conduct diagnostic measures.
When is it important to see a doctor
Many women simply do not have time to monitor their health. A woman should begin to worry about her condition when the following symptoms of damage appear:
- green or yellow discharge;
- redness and itching on the labia minora;
- on the labia there is a pronounced swelling.
In addition, if a woman suspects that discomfort in the genitals has arisen as a result of unprotected intercourse, it is important to seek the advice of a doctor.
Dangerous diseases
There are a large number of sexually transmitted diseases. Many of them lead to severe itching in the labia minora and labia majora.
The most common ailments include:
- Trichomoniasis is a disease caused by trichomonads, which quickly spread in the microflora of a woman’s vagina. In addition, a woman with such a disease has a yellowish discharge, as well as an unpleasant itch.
- Candidiasis. With the disease, a woman feels a burning sensation and itching in the genitals.
- Pubic pediculosis. In this case, the source of the disease is lice, which lay their larvae in the pubic hair.
- Chlamydia is the most common lesion in women. It is characterized by the fact that in the absence of the correct and effective treatment it can provoke health complications. These include lesions of the urethra, rectum and cervical erosion.
- Gonorrhea is a dangerous disease, it can lead to a serious inflammatory process in the appendages and uterus. The causative agent of gonorrhea are the simplest microorganisms. This includes gonococcus, which penetrates the human body through sexual contact with an infected person without the use of contraceptives. Most of all microorganisms are in the vaginal secretion of the patient.
- Herpes (genital form). It is represented by a rash in the vagina, discharge with an unpleasant odor, as well as severe itching in the vagina without discharge.
- Condylomas are growths on the surface of the skin that spread in the labia, as well as near the anus. The causative agent of the lesion is the human papillomavirus.
Possible complications
Specialists identify a large number of complications that may arise as a result of untimely initiation of treatment for a lesion:
- Cervicitis is an inflammation of the uterine mucosa. It can appear not only because of a sexually transmitted infection, but also as a result of injury.
- Endometritis - inflammatory processes in the uterus, accompanied by unpleasant pain in the abdomen, which eventually pass to the lower back. With such a lesion, a woman's body temperature begins to rise. The disease can begin as a result of sexual infection, but not in all cases. For example, a woman may have a miscarriage and subsequent improper treatment.
- Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra. In addition to the unpleasant symptoms that are characterized by itching, the woman also experiences pain.
Diseases that lead to itching in the labia minora without discharge:
- Itching without discharge can occur as a result of diabetes, in which case it is characterized by a sharp increase in the amount of glucose in the blood. The genitals quickly spread yeast, which feed on glucose and amino acids.
- Burning and discomfort may occur as a result of psoriasis at the stage of exacerbation. Such a lesion has a non-infectious nature; the causes of its appearance have not yet been established. The vulva and the area of the labia with exacerbation of the disease are affected by plaques.
- Unpleasant burning and itching often appear due to Keir's disease. Such an oncological lesion refers to squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. During the illness, a woman develops a smooth single erythema, which is located in the genital area. The main reason for the development of such an oncological disease is the human papillomavirus.
- Vulvar cancer is the rarest oncological disease. Most often occurs in women over the age of 60. The main distinguishing feature of such diseases is the asymptomatic nature of development.
Digestive problems
In addition, the cause of itching of the labia minora can be problems with the digestive system. This includes:
- dysbiosis;
- hemorrhoids (external or internal form);
- cracks in the anal canal.
Also, worms (ascariasis) can lead to burning and unpleasant itching. Such parasites can feel comfortable not only in the body of newborns and adolescents, but also in adults.
Experiences, emotional upheaval, and stress also often cause itching. In this case, you can get rid of the defeat by taking tinctures from medicinal herbs, for example, valerian or motherwort.
Drugs that provoke the disease
Itching of the labia minora may occur when taking the following medicines:
- "Tamoxifen" is an antiestrogen that has a non-steroidal effect. A synthetic agent used in the treatment of breast cancer. If you study the instructions of the drug in detail, then in the list of side effects you can find unpleasant itching and burning.
- Some types of contraceptives.
Gynecologist visit
Doctors do not treat burning sensations separately from the main disease. For this reason, when visiting the attending physician, the patient undergoes a full diagnosis. During the examination, the doctor tries to identify the main cause of the disease. With inflammatory processes in the body, doctors carry out antibacterial treatment.
If vaginal itching in the vagina without discharge began in an elderly woman, then she is prescribed hormonal and anti-inflammatory drugs. Fungal infections are eliminated with the help of special ointments and suppositories. Tablets are prescribed only in the most extreme cases.
Treatment for bearing a child
Unpleasant symptoms and a burning sensation during the bearing of a child can occur for the following reasons:
- lack of hygiene;
- an allergic reaction to the intake of certain food products, cosmetic products, household chemicals, drugs;
- disturbances in the hormonal system;
- stress and emotional stress;
- genital infections;
- vaginosis;
- synthetic underwear that irritates the skin;
- negative impact on the body of climatic conditions in the place of residence (cold or heat);
- excessive amounts of salts in the urine.
Itching and swelling of the labia minora do not always indicate the presence of a disease in the human body. The amount of hormones during pregnancy is constantly changing, which negatively affects the indicator of skin elasticity. With an increase in the abdomen and chest, a woman often stretches in these places, which provokes an unpleasant itch, including the genital area.
An increase in the amount of estrogen in the body can adversely affect the liver and biliary system. Bile acids are produced in large quantities, which in some cases provokes their stagnation. But this condition needs to be confirmed. For this, the attending physicians conduct special diagnostics that help identify the condition of the liver and the quality of its work. A common cause of itching is candidiasis, which is most common in pregnant women.
Candidiasis by its nature is an inflammatory process in the mucous membranes, which are affected by Candida fungi in large quantities. Such an ailment can not be called safe for the body of a pregnant woman, since in some cases it can lead to diseases in the child in the womb. In this case, complications in a child occur during pregnancy itself and after birth. Diagnosis of the disease is simple: if the disease goes away without symptoms, then a laboratory examination will help to make an accurate diagnosis and begin the correct treatment.
Treatment of vulvovaginitis
How to treat vulvovaginitis? When treating the disease, it is important to follow the doctor’s strict rules and monitor hygiene: regularly wash the genitals, change underwear 3-4 times a day, and also monitor the cleanliness of the body. With vulvovaginitis, a woman should change the diet and eliminate foods with a large amount of carbohydrates in her composition. The treatment of the disease will be prescribed depending on the age of the patient (the girls lack estrogen in the body during puberty), as well as on the site of the spread of the disease (urinary tract, uterine appendages, as well as the intestines).
Together with the treatment of the main causes of the disease, the patient is prescribed drugs that help improve immunity and protect the body from the effects of harmful microorganisms. Also conduct washing procedures, lotions with decoctions of herbs. Especially effective are the baths with decoctions of eucalyptus, sage and chamomile at a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius. Perform such procedures should be 5 days for 15 minutes.
The main treatment for the disease is to take antibacterial agents, and with a specific form of damage, a whole complex of antibiotics. If you do not start treating the disease in time, then it can quickly become acute and lead to a chronic disease.
The main prevention of severe itching of the labia minora with vulvovaginitis is to maintain the protection of the immune system from harmful pathogens.
The most common form of vulvovaginitis is bacterial. Viral and candidal inflammations, as well as trichomonas infection, can lead to it.
Infection therapy
Symptoms and treatment of trichomoniasis in women are interrelated. After the infection enters the human body, the first visible signs of the disease begin to appear after 4-5 days after the defeat of the body. Depending on the site of infection, the symptoms of the disease can vary significantly. The most common signs of infection include:
- copious discharge of yellow or green;
- vaginal leucorrhoea, which is an accurate sign of trichomoniasis;
- discomfort during urination, as well as during sexual intercourse;
- redness or inflammation of the mucous membrane of the vagina, which can take place against a background of purulent discharge.
These are the main symptoms of trichomoniasis in women. Treatment of the disease includes complex therapy. In this case, the doctor prescribes the patient taking anti-trichomonas drugs - metronidazole and its derivatives.
Together with medicines, local treatment with vaginal tablets and suppositories, which by themselves do not provide the desired effect, can be prescribed. Also, the following procedures can be used for treatment: therapy to strengthen the immune defense, massage of the prostate gland, physiotherapy.
Gardnerellosis and its symptoms
What can be said about the treatment of gardnerellosis in women? Symptoms of the disease are abundant vaginal discharge, which is characterized by a uniform consistency, a grayish-white tint and an unpleasant odor. In most cases, along with secretions in the woman’s vagina, the inflammatory process begins. In this case, she also has a burning sensation and itching, which can only intensify at the time of urination and sexual intercourse.
This is about the symptoms of gardnerellosis in women. Treatment of the disease will include two separate stages. It should be remembered that the second stage will not bring any result without the first.
To begin with, it is important to suppress the excessive growth of opportunistic flora. For this, the doctor prescribes antibiotics to the woman, most often special gels and suppositories are used. The course of taking funds lasts from 7 to 10 days.
The second stage of treatment of the disease is much more complicated than the first. It includes the colonization of the vagina by normal microflora. Before the course of taking drugs with lactic acid bacteria in the composition, an analysis should be passed to determine the effectiveness of the first stage of treatment. Such a diagnosis will also help exclude thrush, which often occurs during antibiotic treatment.
During the treatment, it is also important to follow a diet from which spicy and fatty foods, spices and alcohol should be excluded.