What causes vulvar itching after menstruation?

In real life, many women have severe itching of the vulva after menstruation. However, many women do not dare to go to the hospital for treatment because they think that this symptom does not cause pain and the itchy area is private. As time goes by, the condition worsens and the itching that was originally caused by external stimuli becomes stubborn itching. In short, I sincerely recommend that women with this situation go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible.

Vulvar itching often occurs in the vagina, on the outside of the labia majora, mons pubis, clitoris, labia minora, and perineum, and can spread to the vicinity of the anus. It is a type of localized pruritus. The itching is often unbearable, often occurring at night. It often worsens during menstruation or after eating spicy food. Vulvar itching often manifests as paroxysmal, but sometimes persistent, often worsening at night. Severe itching causes restlessness. Long-term itching can cause ulceration, redness, swelling, or secondary infection. Due to long-term scratching, local infiltration, hypertrophy and pigmentation may occur. The diagnosis is easy based on the clinical presence of only secondary skin lesions and no primary skin lesions.

Most girls suffering from this disease are ashamed to seek medical treatment and often do not receive timely treatment. As time goes by, the itching becomes stubborn, which affects their mental health and even their study and work in severe cases.

There are many reasons for vulvar itching. In summary, the most common local factors causing this disease are:

①External stimulation. Sometimes birth control pills can also cause itching. Itching can also be caused by tight underwear, friction between underwear, and irritation from menstrual belts. Vulvar itching can be caused by not paying attention to the hygiene of the vulva, irritants from vaginal secretions, vulvar secretions, sweat, moisture, immersion, chemical fiber underwear, unqualified menstrual belts, rough toilet paper, allergies caused by vulvar and vaginal medication, and frequent washing of the vulva with soap. Vulvar itching is often accompanied by anal itching, which is related to irritation from external hemorrhoids, long-term incontinence, anal fistula, anal fissure, anal excrement and fecal residues.

②Local diseases of the vulva. Local diseases of the vulva include gonorrhea, non-gonococcal urethritis, fungal or Trichomonas vaginitis, scabies, pubic lice, ringworm, atrophic keratotic lichen, leukoplakia, enterobiasis, contact dermatitis, cervicitis, etc. Anal itching in female children is often caused by pinworms and often worsens at night. In addition, anal itching often spreads to the vulva and causes itching. Apocrine prurigo and sweat gland follicle keratosis can also cause severe vulva itching.

③Systemic diseases. Systemic diseases mainly include diabetes, anemia, leukemia, polycythemia, skin diseases, hepatobiliary diseases (such as jaundice), kidney diseases, lymphoma, etc. In addition to general itching, vulvar itching is often accompanied. According to statistics, 3.4% of 500 diabetic patients had localized itching, mainly vulvar itching.

④Mental factors. If you are worried, depressed, nervous, or irritable, you will often feel itchy vulva, and the more you scratch, the more itchy it becomes.

⑤Dietary factors. Lack of iron, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin E, fat, etc. in food can cause dryness, flaking and itching of the vulvar skin.

⑥ Idiopathic vulvar pruritus: The cause is unknown and is related to emotional disturbance or certain minor stimuli.