Itching in the intimate area that keeps coming back, or never quite goes away, is hard to talk about. Many women try one cream after another, or put up with it because it feels too embarrassing to mention. This is a common reason to see a gynaecologist, and the cause can usually be found.
Vaginal or vulval itching is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and several different things can produce it. A yeast infection is the one most people think of, but bacterial changes in the vagina, irritation from soaps, wipes, pads or detergents, and skin conditions of the vulva can all feel the same. After menopause, or while breastfeeding, low oestrogen can leave the skin thin and dry, and dryness itches. Some skin conditions of the vulva look unremarkable at first and need a proper look. The feeling is identical; the treatments are not, which is why treating the wrong thing can make it worse.
Ask whether you need to be seen
Message us with what you are experiencing and we will tell you whether an examination is worth making, and what the appointment involves.
WhatsAppLINETwo habits make it harder to settle: repeated self-treatment with creams before knowing the cause, and washing more often or with stronger products, which irritates sensitive skin further. Neither is a failing on your part.
Assessment begins with listening: when the itch started, whether it is worse at night, whether there is discharge, soreness, burning or pain with sex, and what products touch the area. Then comes a gentle examination of the vulva and vagina, and where it helps, a swab to look for infection. If the skin looks unusual or does not settle, a small sample may be suggested. You can ask for each step to be explained first, and to stop at any point.
The options depend on what is found. An infection is treated as an infection. Irritation is managed by removing the trigger and protecting the skin. If low oestrogen is part of the picture, that can be addressed with a doctor. A skin condition needs its own plan and follow-up. Results differ between individuals, and no outcome is guaranteed.
See a doctor sooner if the itching has lasted more than a couple of weeks or keeps returning, if you notice sores, blisters, white or thickened patches, a change in skin colour, bleeding that is not your period, a new lump, pelvic pain or fever, or if you are past menopause and this is new.
If this has been wearing you down, send us a few lines on WhatsApp or LINE about what you are experiencing, in your own words, including how long it has lasted and what you have already tried. The team will reply with whether an examination is worth making and what the appointment involves, and there is no need to feel embarrassed. Consultations are in Thai or English at EMSPHERE, next to BTS Phrom Phong.