Why does my vagina feel itchy?

A woman's vagina is an organ unique to women and is completely different from that of men. It is for this reason that women should pay more attention to protecting the hygiene of their genitals in daily life. Sometimes, if we don’t pay attention to cleaning, we will feel itchy in the vagina. What’s going on?

1. Local causes

(1) Special infections: Vulvovaginal Candida albicans vaginitis and Trichomonas vaginitis are the most common causes of vulvar pruritus. Pubic lice and scabies can also cause itching. Itching around the anus and vulva of young girls caused by pinworm infection usually occurs at night.

(2) Squamous cell hyperplasia: The main symptom is severe itching, which may be accompanied by whitening of the vulvar skin.

(3) Drug allergy or chemical irritation: Soap, condoms, benzalkonium bromide, etc. can cause contact or allergic dermatitis due to direct irritation or allergy, resulting in symptoms of vulvar itching.

(4) Bad hygiene habits: Not paying attention to the local cleanliness of the vulva, which is soaked with sebum, sweat glands, menstrual blood, vaginal secretions, and even urine and feces. Long-term stimulation of the vulva can cause itching; sanitary napkins during menstruation. Wearing non-breathable synthetic underwear on a regular basis can induce itching due to the accumulation of damp heat.

(5) Other skin lesions: abrasions, common warts, herpes, eczema, tumors, etc. can all cause vulvar itching.

2. Systemic causes

(1) Diabetes: Due to the irritation of diabetes to the vulvar skin, especially when accompanied by vulvovaginal candidiasis, vulvar itching is particularly severe. Many patients first seek medical attention due to vulvar itching and redness, and are only diagnosed with diabetes after further examination.

(2) Jaundice, vitamin A and vitamin B deficiency. When patients with chronic diseases such as anemia and leukemia experience vulvar itching, it is often part of systemic itching.

(3) Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy may also cause itching of the skin all over the body, including the vulva.

(4) During pregnancy and premenstrual period, the vulva becomes congested, which may occasionally cause vulvar itching and discomfort.

(5) Unexplained vulvar pruritus: Some patients experience severe vulvar pruritus and even have suicidal thoughts, but no obvious systemic or local cause can be found. Some scholars currently believe that this may be related to mental or psychological factors.