Itching in the vagina during pregnancy

Vaginal itching during pregnancy is a good reason to see a gynecologist. Almost any external irritant has a negative effect on a woman's genitals, which, accordingly, react sharply to it. Such discomfort, even to a minor extent, can provoke irritability, sleep disturbances, and cause nervousness in a pregnant woman.

Itching during pregnancy is a rather alarming symptom that may indicate the presence of an infection in the body, in particular, a gynecological one. However, itching in a pregnant woman during the period of bearing a child is often caused by the restructuring of the woman's endocrine system. As a result, her body undergoes radical changes. The immune status of the expectant mother also changes - all the body's forces are aimed at preventing the rejection of the emerging little life as alien. This leads to an imbalance, in particular, failures in the normal functioning of internal organs, changes in the composition of the mucous membranes, and skin microflora. Itching that occurs against the background of hormonal changes in the female body goes away on its own and does not require increased attention from medical intervention.

But what to do if a pregnant woman begins to feel discomfort, discharge and itching in the vagina? In this case, a consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist is simply necessary, because the question is about the main reason for the occurrence of such a symptom.

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Causes of Vaginal Itching During Pregnancy

In early pregnancy, itching may occur due to candidiasis (thrush). In addition to this symptom, other signs are observed during the development of thrush: "cheesy" vaginal discharge, nagging pain in the lower abdomen, burning in the genital area, abundant discharge and an unpleasant odor. In order to confirm the diagnosis, the gynecologist must collect material for analysis and prescribe treatment for candidiasis taking into account the minimal risks to the fetus.

In addition to thrush, internal causes of vaginal itching in pregnant women can be:

• Chlamydia is a disease that is often asymptomatic or manifests itself as mild itching in the vagina.
• Gardnerellosis (bacterial vaginosis) – the disease develops due to the replacement of the normal microflora of the woman's vagina by opportunistic (gardnerella). Symptoms of this disease are severe itching in the vagina, burning of the genitals, grayish discharge with a sharp smell of "rotten fish".
• Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease characterized by itching in the vagina and redness of the genitals, as well as the appearance of pain when urinating, yellowish vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor.
• Genital herpes. The initial symptom of this disease is itching and burning of the genitals, followed by vesicular rashes.

Often, itching during pregnancy is a symptom of intestinal dysbacteriosis, which can easily provoke the development of diseases such as saprophytic genital herpes, as well as vaginosis, trichomoniasis, candidiasis, etc.

Vaginal itching during pregnancy sometimes occurs due to weakened general or local immunity of the expectant mother. Violation of the normal vaginal microflora is manifested against the background of the development of fungi and various pathogenic microbes and bacteria. Because of this, burning and itching occur in the vaginal area, there are profuse discharge with an unpleasant odor, and pain in the pelvic area. In these cases, treatment of vaginal itching in a pregnant woman consists, first of all, in increasing the body's immunity, and also (and this is the main goal!) - restoring the natural vaginal microflora. Self-manipulation in the form of douching, using ointments and other means will not lead to the desired result. The expectant mother should undergo the prescribed course of examination and begin taking the medications prescribed by the attending physician.

It may sound strange, but the reasons for discomfort and itching in the vagina may well be stressful situations, emotional exhaustion and excessive nervous tension of the pregnant woman. Even mental stress, depression and physical exhaustion of the expectant mother can become psychogenic factors that “undermine” the immune system.

Itching during pregnancy, localized in the vaginal area, can develop as a result of hepatitis, serious blood diseases, as well as renal failure, hyperprolactinemia, atrophy of the vaginal walls, ovarian dysfunction and other diseases. It is much worse if the cause of vaginal itching in a pregnant woman is hidden in a sexually transmitted disease (gonorrhea, genital herpes, syphilis). Infection can occur before conception or during pregnancy. Such diseases are extremely dangerous for the development of the fetus, since the infection has the ability to not be limited to local manifestations. That is why it is so important for the expectant mother to maintain personal hygiene in relationships with a man, especially when planning a child.

Vaginal itching during pregnancy is often accompanied by swelling of the external genitalia and vaginal walls, as well as irritation and redness. The irresistible desire to scratch causes such unpleasant consequences as scratches, cracks, and ulcers. There are cases when this type of itching goes to the anus.

There are also external causes that can cause itching in pregnant women. These include:

• tight underwear that causes excessive friction, as well as synthetic underwear that is not able to allow sufficient air to pass through, resulting in a disruption of the vaginal microflora;
• failure to follow simple rules of intimate hygiene, or use of regular soap, gels with synthetic additives that disrupt the natural pH balance of the mucous membranes. However, it should be noted that too frequent washing can provoke a deterioration in the condition and increase itching of the genitals;
• allergic reactions caused by the use of lubricants, greases, antibacterial gels intended for intimate hygiene, etc.

To avoid such problems, a pregnant woman should take care to wear comfortable underwear made exclusively from natural, high-quality fabrics (the best option is cotton underwear), use special intimate hygiene products, and constantly monitor the condition of the genitals while carrying a baby.

Vaginal itching during pregnancy is a reason to contact a medical specialist, and it is advisable to do this immediately, since treatment for the cause of such a symptom can only be prescribed by an experienced, knowledgeable gynecologist after examining the pregnant woman and conducting the necessary tests to establish an accurate diagnosis.

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