Doctor has message for anyone who gets 'itchy' down there
There's nothing worse than sudden feeling a little tickle in your nether-regions - especially if you're out in public and forced to do that super-uncomfortable leg shuffle to satisfy a relentless itch.
However, if you're subjected to itchy sensations around this area more often that you'd care to admit, this could be a sign of 'vaginitis', a broad term to discuss something suss is going on behind the scenes.
It turns out, there's a whole host of reasons why people especially might feel tempted to give their crotches a scratch - some are harmless one-offs, whilst some could be indicators of serious ill-health.
As a number of doctors have been attempting to emphasise recently, however, it's important to know how to tell the difference.
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"Understanding the causes of vaginal itching can guide you in taking the right steps toward relief," experts at Canesten explained, revealing that the most common cause of this unnerving sensation is actually irritation.
Irritation
It shouldn't be a surprise to learn that the skin making up and surrounding the vagina (otherwise known as the vulva), is super sensitive - and as such, this area should be treated with care.
This doesn't mean lathering it in chemicals and cosmetics, which often contribute to the feeling of itchiness 'down there'.
Products including soaps, perfumes, deodorants, wet wipes, creams and bubble bath have been known to cause such an effect, along with condoms, sanitary pads and tampons, all of which can rub the skin up the wrong way (literally!).
Vaginal irritation can also occur as a result of using particular fabric conditioners or detergents to wash your clothes, with some people being sensitive or even allergic to certain ingredients.
For this reason, it's vital to be mindful of the products you're using in and around this arena.
Yeast infection
Also known as 'thrush', yeast infections are also common causes of vaginal itching, especially in women either going through puberty or battling menopause.
A far from life-threatening condition, thrush is simply caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the vagina - which itself can be caused by antibiotics destroying the balance of good bacteria in the body that serves to keep the yeast in your vagina at the right levels.
The condition can result trigger some uncomfortable side effects - the main one being itching and irritation. Sufferers can also experience white vaginal discharge, soreness when having sex or peeing, and redness/swelling of the vagina/vulva.
Menopause
Speaking of menopause, this phase in itself - which causes a decline in oestrogen inside the body - can also trigger a thinning and dryness of the skin around your vulva, which could cause vaginal itching.
This usually comes hand in hand with the likes of hot flushes, night sweats and sleeping difficulties, mood swings, a reduced sex drive, and joint stiffness, aches and pains.
STIs
A handful of sexually transmitted infections can trigger symptoms like itching, including genital warts, which cause small, rough lumps appearing around the vagina or anus, and genital herpes, which causes small blisters to form and burst in the same areas (as well as the thighs).
Trichomoniasis is another STI that can trigger itching. Caused by a parasite, it can trigger the release of either thick, thin or frothy vaginal discharge.
It's vital to get checked out by your local sexual health nurse if you suspect you have an STI.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Many women going through pregnancy, or in the early stages of breastfeeding their child, could experience a sudden surge in itchiness down there.
The former stage can increase a person's risk of experiencing vaginal yeast infections because of hormonal changes occurring inside the body, which occur as the baby grows. Apparently, it's most common during the third trimester.
In cases of the latter, giving birth causes lower levels of oestrogen to be floating around your body, which is why many women experience this same itching during their early days of breastfeeding.
Vulval cancer
As we say, however, whilst itching 'down there' is most likely not the result of anything serious, in some cases, it can be.
Vulval cancer starts as a growth of cells on the vulva that eventually forms a full-fledged lump or sore that can cause itching.
Despite having the ability to appear at any age, this particular strain is usually diagnosed in older adults.
The earlier that vulval cancer is diagnosed, however, the quicker a patient can start treatment - as such, it's vital to be able to distinguish this type of itching to any of the other causes mentioned.
According to Mayo Clinic doctors, to do so, a patient also needs to look out for symptoms like bleeding in the genital area that isn't from menstruation, pain and tenderness that affects the vulva, and skin changes, such as changes in the colour of the skin of the vulva or thickening of the skin.
Cancer Research UK medics also advise keeping a look out for raised, red, white or dark patches on the skin, a mole that changes shape or colour, and the feeling of burning when you pass urine.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Topics: Cancer, Women's Health, Health, Life, Real Life, True Life
Rhianna Benson