What causes vaginal itching during pregnancy?

We all know that women's physiological cycles will undergo great changes during pregnancy, and there will be no menstruation during the entire pregnancy. However, many women relax their vigilance against their bodies and always think that they will not suffer from gynecological diseases during pregnancy. In fact, this idea is very wrong. Many women will experience symptoms such as vaginal itching during pregnancy, but they don’t know what causes it. However, they are always particularly worried, fearing that it will affect the health of the fetus and affect the choice of delivery method. Let’s understand what is going on with vaginal itching during pregnancy?

What causes vaginal itching during pregnancy?

Vulvar itching during pregnancy is sometimes caused by psychological factors, sometimes by external stimuli, but more often it is caused by increased vaginal secretions and local moisture stimulation.

1. Vulvar itching caused by mental factors

Medical research has shown that after women become pregnant, certain changes in their lives, such as reduced or interrupted sexual intercourse, fear of pregnancy, insomnia, etc., often cause vulvar itching.

2. Vulvar itching caused by external stimulation

Itching can be caused by excessive sweat, moisture, and immersion; wearing underwear with a harder texture or some expectant mothers being allergic to certain chemical fiber underwear can also cause itching; using soap to clean the vulva can cause itching, etc.

3. Vulvar itching caused by vaginal inflammation

Vulvar itching is the main symptom of diseases such as candidal vaginitis, Trichomonas vaginitis, and vulvar eczema.

4. Gestational diabetes

When suffering from diabetes, due to the irritation of the vulvar skin by urine sugar, it is easy to develop bacterial vulvar and vaginitis, causing vulvar itching. When jaundice occurs due to liver, gallbladder and other diseases, vulvar itching may also occur due to the increase of bilirubin in the blood and the irritation of the skin by bile salts.

Symptoms of vulvar itching during pregnancy

Vulvar itching during pregnancy is often manifested as persistent or paroxysmal itching. It 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. Long-term itching can cause ulceration, redness, swelling or secondary infection. Due to long-term scratching, local infiltration, hypertrophy and pigmentation may occur.

Can I use lotion for vulvar itching during pregnancy?

Do not use lotion randomly for vulvar itching during pregnancy. Female washes can be divided into two categories: one is a medicated wash specifically used to treat vulvitis, and the other is a vulvar wash for general health care that cannot treat inflammation. If pregnant women experience abnormal leucorrhea, vulvar itching and other symptoms during pregnancy, they should not use vulvar wash indiscriminately. They must use it under the guidance of a doctor to avoid affecting the development of the fetus.

If you need to use a lotion, read the drug instructions carefully before use to check whether the drug is suitable for pregnant women. Generally, pregnant women should avoid using lotions containing ingredients such as sulfonamides, tetracycline, and quinolone.

The above is an introduction to what causes vaginal itching during pregnancy. After understanding it, we know that this phenomenon is generally caused by vaginitis. Therefore, women must pay special attention to their physical hygiene during pregnancy. At the same time, they must also pay attention to a light diet. When they feel unwell, they must not take medicine on their own. They must consult a doctor and have regular prenatal check-ups.