Why does a woman feel itchy and painful on her vulva?

Regardless of age, women are prone to gynecological inflammation, and the initial symptoms of gynecological inflammation often start with vaginal itching. What's going on with this condition on a woman's vulva? In fact, there are many types of gynecological inflammation. For example, frequent urination and urgency are symptoms of candidal vaginitis, and yellow-green vaginal discharge with a foul odor are typical symptoms of Trichomonas vaginitis. The discharge is grayish white, which is usually caused by bacterial infection of the vaginitis. Knowing the type of inflammation will help you prescribe the right medicine.

[Symptoms of women's vulva]

1. Bacterial vaginosis

10% to 40% of patients have no clinical symptoms. Those with symptoms mainly present with increased vaginal discharge with a fishy odor, which is especially aggravated after sexual intercourse and may be accompanied by mild vulvar itching or burning sensation. Examination showed no signs of congestion or inflammation in the vaginal mucosa. The secretions were grayish white, uniform, thin, and adhered to the vaginal wall for a long time, and could be easily wiped off the vaginal wall.

2. Candidal vaginitis

(1) Vulvar itching, burning pain, and pain during sexual intercourse.

(2) Frequent and painful urination. The characteristic of dysuria is that urine irritates the edematous vulva and vestibule during urination, causing pain.

(3) Characteristic secretion: white, thick, and resembling curd or bean curd residue.

(4) Vulvitis - geographic erythema, edema, and scratches.

(5) Vaginitis - edema, erythema, and white membrane.

3. Trichomonas vaginitis

(1) Characteristics of increased vaginal discharge: thin, purulent, yellow-green, foamy, and smelly.

(2) Location of vulvar itching: vaginal opening and vulva.

(3) If combined with urinary tract infection: frequent urination, urgency, pain, and sometimes hematuria.

(4) Infertility: Trichomonas vaginalis can devour sperm, hinder the production of lactic acid, and affect its survival in the vagina.

(5) Examination revealed: congestion of the vaginal mucosa with scattered bleeding spots, and a large amount of "strawberry-like" leucorrhea in the posterior fornix of the cervix, which was grayish yellow, yellowish-white thin liquid or yellowish-green purulent secretions, often in a foamy state. There are no abnormal changes in the vaginal mucosa of carriers.

[Treatment of female vulva symptoms]

Generally, the drug treatment for vaginitis is mainly external use. Patients with pelvic inflammatory disease or recurrent vaginitis can take oral medications. If necessary, couples can be treated together. Note that long-term oral antibiotics may inhibit normal flora and cause secondary fungal infection.

1. Bacterial vaginosis

The principle of treatment is to use anti-anaerobic drugs. Caution: Disulfiram-like reactions may occur with both oral and topical metronidazole. Sex partners do not require routine treatment.

2. Candidal vaginitis

Eliminate the causes: If you have diabetes, you should be treated actively and stop using broad-spectrum antibiotics, estrogen and cortisol in time. Change your underwear frequently, and wash used underwear, basins, and towels with boiling water. Pregnancy complicated by Candida vaginitis is mainly treated with local treatment, and oral azole drugs are contraindicated.

3. Trichomonas vaginitis

Sexual partners should be treated at the same time, and unprotected sexual intercourse should be avoided until they are cured.