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Vaginal itching around time of period?
For the past 4 months, I've developed a terrible itch/redness in the vaginal area about 5 days prior to my period; it goes away 2 or 3 days after I 'start.'
I've never had a yeast infection before, but the first month it happened I assumed that's what it was. I treated it OTC to save a trip to the doctor. Since then, I've just lived with it until it passed.
I have an annual exam coming up within the next month, and this problem is top of my list for discussion. However, if anyone has any advice or personal experience with something similar, I'd really appreciate hearing about it.
P.S. I'm married and both of us are completely monogamous - it cannot be an STD of any sort. Haven't changed laundry detergent, body soap, lotion, perfume, or anything else I can think of in quite some time.
I've never had a yeast infection before, but the first month it happened I assumed that's what it was. I treated it OTC to save a trip to the doctor. Since then, I've just lived with it until it passed.
I have an annual exam coming up within the next month, and this problem is top of my list for discussion. However, if anyone has any advice or personal experience with something similar, I'd really appreciate hearing about it.
P.S. I'm married and both of us are completely monogamous - it cannot be an STD of any sort. Haven't changed laundry detergent, body soap, lotion, perfume, or anything else I can think of in quite some time.
I have the same symptoms ! I'm only 22 and haven't had a child ! I've only ever had one sexual partner. It's so painful that I can't sleep nothing seems to be working to relieve the pain
I have been suffering from the same condition for a while before finding this forum. Here is a website that gives you information about his condition which is called Cytolytic Vaginosis. YOU CAN READ THE BELOW ARTICLES, copied from http://www.cytolyticvaginosis.org/causes
How does someone contract cytolytic vaginosis?
Vaginal discharge is normal for any woman beyond adolescence and puberty, but there are at times some symptoms of the vaginal discharge that are abnormal and suspicious. The lactobacilli are bacteria in the vaginal tract that are responsible for producing lactic acid to maintain the best pH. Some species of this bacterium too produce hydrogen peroxide, which has antiseptic properties. The optimum vaginal pH lies between 3.8 and 4.5.
However, when there is an overgrowth of the lactobacillus bacteria, disaster strikes; too much lactic acid strains the vaginal lining and too much hydrogen peroxide kills even the necessary microorganisms. The pH also goes to as low as 3 or, worse still, 2. This happens when the lactobacilli start converting all the glucose into lactic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, and alcohol and CO2 gas. The vaginal lining gets on the defensive and starts producing too much discharge to counteract the effect of too much lactobacillus. This discharge flows together with the acid and killed microorganisms, which makes it even more toxic. As a result, the patient feels itchy, red and swollen as they continuously pass the thick white or thin colorless discharge. This results to a condition known as cytolytic vaginosis.
Most of the times, cytolytic vaginosis is mistaken, even by medical practitioners, to be a fungal and yeast infection (Candida) or a bacterial infection. The patient therefore ends up taking all the wrong medication while the real condition hides and continues to develop. Cytolytic vaginosis is different from all the other vaginal conditions in that it is not an infection, but merely a condition whose main cause is not really known but is suspected to be imbalance of hormones and of the general ecosystem of the vaginal environment. Main causes of this imbalance include pregnancy, abortions, contraceptives and IUDs, sexual intercourse, sanitary products and hygienic standards and products.
Cytolytic vaginosis usually suppresses during menstruation because the menstrual fluid is basic, which means that the highly acidic pH is raised. However, during ovulation of at about two weeks to the menses, hell breaks loose as this condition worsens. It is often confused with bacterial vaginosis, Trichomoniasis and Candida infection. However, the microscope test is what helps one distinguish cytolytic vaginosis from the other infections. The epithelial cells are seen to have some lactobacillus attached to them and they usually have unclear cell membranes and a pale cytoplasm. The white blood cell count is often very low, and other microorganisms like yeast are usually absent.
A thing you ought to know before you even begin to treat cytolytic vaginosis is that it is not transmitted sexually. However, you need to avoid any sexual activity during treatment, as this may worsen the condition. You should also avoid any scented sanitary pads, vaginal cleansers, powders or creams. Also, as you treat cytolytic vaginosis, avoid using tampons; many people use tampons in order to keep the odor and discharge away, but it makes things worse. Allowing the menstrual fluid to flow through actually helps in raising the pH. Avoid antibiotics, even if your doctor prescribes them, because they kill all bacteria, whether good or bad. Thus, even the bacteria preventing odor is killed, making the condition unbearable.
How does someone contract cytolytic vaginosis?
Vaginal discharge is normal for any woman beyond adolescence and puberty, but there are at times some symptoms of the vaginal discharge that are abnormal and suspicious. The lactobacilli are bacteria in the vaginal tract that are responsible for producing lactic acid to maintain the best pH. Some species of this bacterium too produce hydrogen peroxide, which has antiseptic properties. The optimum vaginal pH lies between 3.8 and 4.5.
However, when there is an overgrowth of the lactobacillus bacteria, disaster strikes; too much lactic acid strains the vaginal lining and too much hydrogen peroxide kills even the necessary microorganisms. The pH also goes to as low as 3 or, worse still, 2. This happens when the lactobacilli start converting all the glucose into lactic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, and alcohol and CO2 gas. The vaginal lining gets on the defensive and starts producing too much discharge to counteract the effect of too much lactobacillus. This discharge flows together with the acid and killed microorganisms, which makes it even more toxic. As a result, the patient feels itchy, red and swollen as they continuously pass the thick white or thin colorless discharge. This results to a condition known as cytolytic vaginosis.
Most of the times, cytolytic vaginosis is mistaken, even by medical practitioners, to be a fungal and yeast infection (Candida) or a bacterial infection. The patient therefore ends up taking all the wrong medication while the real condition hides and continues to develop. Cytolytic vaginosis is different from all the other vaginal conditions in that it is not an infection, but merely a condition whose main cause is not really known but is suspected to be imbalance of hormones and of the general ecosystem of the vaginal environment. Main causes of this imbalance include pregnancy, abortions, contraceptives and IUDs, sexual intercourse, sanitary products and hygienic standards and products.
Cytolytic vaginosis usually suppresses during menstruation because the menstrual fluid is basic, which means that the highly acidic pH is raised. However, during ovulation of at about two weeks to the menses, hell breaks loose as this condition worsens. It is often confused with bacterial vaginosis, Trichomoniasis and Candida infection. However, the microscope test is what helps one distinguish cytolytic vaginosis from the other infections. The epithelial cells are seen to have some lactobacillus attached to them and they usually have unclear cell membranes and a pale cytoplasm. The white blood cell count is often very low, and other microorganisms like yeast are usually absent.
A thing you ought to know before you even begin to treat cytolytic vaginosis is that it is not transmitted sexually. However, you need to avoid any sexual activity during treatment, as this may worsen the condition. You should also avoid any scented sanitary pads, vaginal cleansers, powders or creams. Also, as you treat cytolytic vaginosis, avoid using tampons; many people use tampons in order to keep the odor and discharge away, but it makes things worse. Allowing the menstrual fluid to flow through actually helps in raising the pH. Avoid antibiotics, even if your doctor prescribes them, because they kill all bacteria, whether good or bad. Thus, even the bacteria preventing odor is killed, making the condition unbearable.
I also have this issue its been happening to me since some time ago in 2008 I have searched and searched. I do no have health insurance so I have come to realize I'm allergic to my period or something allergic is happening before I start.
It starts around 2 weeks prior to my period so I get maybe 2 weeks of itch and soreness free. Its not a lot I scratch till I bleed, I dont think my hair will ever grow back not that I care. I do not have no std I'm not really sexually active, no yeast infections or nothing like that. Its the lips that itch and a little around, they swell up so big its like two hot dogs down there on each side :( I hate it and want to just die when it happens and I think to myself I must be horrible for this to happen to me all the time like this. I have narrowed it down to my period though. now just to figure out what I need to do to fix it......... no itch cream in the world can help with this either!!
ps I have also been treated for BV and no success.......
It starts around 2 weeks prior to my period so I get maybe 2 weeks of itch and soreness free. Its not a lot I scratch till I bleed, I dont think my hair will ever grow back not that I care. I do not have no std I'm not really sexually active, no yeast infections or nothing like that. Its the lips that itch and a little around, they swell up so big its like two hot dogs down there on each side :( I hate it and want to just die when it happens and I think to myself I must be horrible for this to happen to me all the time like this. I have narrowed it down to my period though. now just to figure out what I need to do to fix it......... no itch cream in the world can help with this either!!
ps I have also been treated for BV and no success.......
I too have had this very same problem as the rest of you ladies. I am so happy to hear that I do not suffer alone! I am now 38 yrs old and was diagnosed with BV when I was in my mid 20's. About the time I met my husband 15ys. I stopped taking the prescribed meds for be stupid and a know it all (lol) I have had one more child since then, tuble then a hysterectomy due to sever fibroid. My ovaries where left due to my gyno not wanting me to go into premature menopause.while i was on the meds and my body recovering from the surgery I had no problems boy was I elated to find that the itching had stopped. I thought all was because of the fibroid and everything was cool. Boy was I wrong. At the same time I have been embarrassed to discuss this with my doctor or my husband. Why was I embarrassed to talk with my Dr. idk y I ask everything else. Now with my husband it is what it is, He is a man and just wouldn't understand. Sex for my is horrible and he thinks its him. Like many of you I dig and scratch and dig and scratch until I have very bad cuts and a rash which makes for healing impossible then it subsides. Which means it last well beyond my "cycle". the rash is still there from the itching which means it always itches it does ease up a little which gives me great relief that it is clearing up. Only until recent have I put it together with the time of my "cycle", and remembering what I was told oh so many years ago. You all have been a great help I will be trying the home remedies that you have have discussed here and will be talking to my Dr. about everything.
Thank You All
Nikki
Thank You All
Nikki
I stopped using monistat many many years ago as it did the same thing to me as it does to you- felt like i was burning inside. When I called the company they said they changed the ingredients in the monistat. I use clotrimazole only (gynelotrimin) now & it helps relieve the itch but comes right back. I to have the same issue of itching prior to my menstrual cycle which makes it very frustrating. I am going to try what you tried & see if that helps. Thanks for the comments...
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