My vulva is always itchy lately. What's going on?

Vaginitis is a relatively common gynecological disease. After suffering from vaginitis, the patient will feel itching of the vulva and increased leucorrhea. When suffering from vaginitis, timely treatment is required. When vaginitis is serious, it will not only have a certain impact on physical health, but may even cause infertility or cancer. There are many types of vaginitis, and effective treatment based on the specific causes can achieve better treatment results.

Causes of vaginitis

1. Damage to the vaginal environment

There are various microbial communities in the vagina of healthy women, which restrict and coordinate with each other to maintain a dynamic balance of vaginal microecology. If the estrogen level in the body decreases or the vaginal pH increases, frequent sexual intercourse and vaginal douching can increase the vaginal pH, which is not conducive to the growth of lactobacillus. Long-term use of antibiotics to inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus, or low immunity of the body, can make other conditional pathogens become dominant and cause inflammation.

When the body's own environment or the external environment changes, the natural defense function of the vagina will be destroyed, making it easier for pathogens to invade the vagina and lead to the occurrence of vaginitis. Vaginitis is more likely to occur if there is a history of vaginal injury, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis, unclean sexual intercourse, or uterine surgery.

3. Low estrogen levels in young girls and postmenopausal women

The vulva of young girls is underdeveloped and cannot cover the urethral opening and vaginal vestibule, making it easy for bacteria to invade. In addition, young girls have lower estrogen levels, thin vaginal epithelium, less glycogen, and a higher pH value, so they are very likely to get infected or inflammatory. Postmenopausal women lack estrogen, their vaginal mucosa atrophies, the glycogen content of epithelial cells decreases, local resistance decreases, and they are susceptible to bacterial infection and vaginitis.

1. Trichomonas vaginitis

Leucorrhea increases in volume and is milky white or yellow, sometimes purulent, often foamy and smelly. In severe cases, there is bloody discharge, urinary pain, frequent urination, and hematuria.

2. Fungal vaginitis

Vulvar itching, vulvar and vaginal burning pain, increased leucorrhea with a tofu-dreg-like appearance, sometimes accompanied by frequent urination, dysuria, and pain during sexual intercourse. During gynecological examination, white film-like substances can be seen attached to the inner side of the labia minora and the vaginal mucosa, which can be wiped off to reveal the red and swollen mucosal surface. In the acute phase, damaged erosive surfaces or superficial ulcers can be seen.

3. Bacterial vaginosis

The vaginal discharge increases and becomes grayish white, thin and foamy. The vaginal mucosa is congested, with scattered bleeding spots, itchy and burning sensation in the vulva, and a foul odor in the vulva.

4. Nonspecific vaginitis

There is a feeling of falling and burning in the vagina, accompanied by pelvic discomfort and general fatigue. Vaginal discharge increases and becomes purulent, serous, and has a foul odor. Because the secretions irritate the urethral opening, it can cause frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating.

5. Senile vaginitis

The amount of vaginal discharge increases and becomes yellow, watery or purulent with a foul odor. When the infection is severe, vaginal bleeding may occur, as well as heaviness and burning sensation in the vagina. If the vestibule and mucosa around the urethral orifice are affected, frequent urination and painful urination may also occur.