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What is vaginal itching?

Vaginal itching is an unpleasant, uncomfortable and occasionally painful sensation experienced by many women.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What are the symptoms of vaginal itching?

Vaginal itching is experienced around the vagina and vulva and may be accompanied by a range of symptoms, depending on the cause. Some common symptoms that may accompany vaginal itching may include: abnormal vaginal discharge that is atypical in …

What causes vaginal itching?

There are many different causes of vaginal itching, some of which are infectious, while others are not. Infectious causes are either bacterial, yeast or parasitic. For example, scabies is an infection that is caused by mites that burrow under the skin, …

Who gets vaginal itching?

Females of any age can potentially experience vaginal itching, but it is a very common and treatable condition. Some risk factors of developing vaginal itching may include: pregnancy, taking oral contraceptive pills, being postmenopausal, taking antibiotics, …

How is vaginal itching diagnosed?

To find the cause of your vaginal itching, your doctor can take your detailed medical history and conduct a physical exam. During the examination, a swab may be taken from the vagina. This swab is used to help identify what, if any, microbial growth is …

How is vaginal itching treated?

The treatment for vaginal itching depends on its cause. For vaginal itching that is caused by an infection, the treatment can include antifungal agents, antibiotics, or topical creams. Treatments for non-infectious causes include avoiding irritants, using …

Can vaginal itching be cured?

Vaginal itching generally does not pose significant complications. However, in women infected with either chlamydia or gonorrhea, their condition, if left untreated, may progress to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can lead to other complications …

Can vaginal itching be prevented?

Once the cause of your vaginal itching has been identified, there are some strategies that may help prevent its recurrence. Some ways of reducing your risk of experiencing vaginal itching include: avoiding douching; when going to the bathroom, wiping from …

Will vaginal itching keep coming back?

Vaginal itching may come back after treatment. There are strategies you can adopted to prevent its recurrence, such as: avoiding douching; when going to the bathroom, wiping from front to back to avoid contaminating your vagina with bacteria from …

Can vaginal itching be caught from sex?

Yes. Some cases of vaginal itching are caused by sexually-transmitted infections, including gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Related topics

Diseases & conditions

Vaginal discharge

It is normal for women to have some vaginal discharge. The appearance and amount of discharge will vary, according to factors such as ovulation, pregnancy or starting oral contraceptive medication. There are infections such as thrush, chlamydia and gonorrhoea that can also cause changes to vaginal discharge.…
Diseases & conditions

Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis occurs when there is an overgrowth of certain types of bacteria normally found in the vagina. It often causes a grey-coloured discharge. Although more common in sexually active women, bacterial vaginosis is not passed on through sexual activity.…
Diseases & conditions

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is the infection of a woman’s reproductive organs and surrounding pelvic tissues. It occurs most commonly when a sexually-transmitted infection spreads beyond the vagina to internal pelvic organs. This can lead to long-term complications if not recognised and treated early.…
Diseases & conditions

Thrush

Candidiasis is a common infection that occurs in the mouth, vagina or nipples when there is an overgrowth in these areas of a particular fungal yeast, called Candida albicans. Other names for candidiasis include thrush, monilia or a yeast infection.…
Diseases & conditions

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually-transmitted infection. It is common for infected individuals to not know they have it, therefore, it is important to get regular checks. It can have serious complications if not treated. Fortunately, treatment is straightforward with antibiotics.…
Diseases & conditions

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a long-term condition in women causing an imbalance in sex hormones. Symptoms include weight gain, acne, and increase in facial or body hair, which can all affect self-esteem. There are a range of treatments available to help manage the condition.…

About this article

Author: Dr Nikki Wallis PhD, BSc
First answered: 22 Nov 2014
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Votes: 1492 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Vaginal discharge

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