Vaginal itching is a tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin of the vagina and the surrounding area (vulva). The itching may cause a desire to scratch the affected area.
Common causes of vaginal itching include:
Other possible, but less common, causes of vaginal itching include:
To prevent and treat vaginal itching:
If you are sure that you have a yeast infection, try over-the-counter creams or vaginal suppositories. See: Vaginal yeast infection
For itching related to menopause, your health care provider may consider estrogen cream or tablets to insert vaginally. See: Vaginal dryness
Teach children to resist and report any attempted sexual contact by another person. Do not try to remove any foreign object from a child's vagina. Take the child to a health care provider right away for removal.
Call your health care provider right away if:
Call your health care provider if:
Your doctor will examine you, including doing a pelvic exam, and ask questions to help diagnose the cause of your vaginal itching. These questions may include:
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
The health care provider may prescribe drugs, such as:
Pruritus vulvae; Itching - vaginal area; Vulvar itching
Biggs WS, Williams RM. Common gynecologic infections. Prim Care. 2009 Mar;36(1):33-51,
Superficial fungal infections. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 13.
Eckert LO, Lentz GM. Infections of the lower genital tract: vulva, vagina, cervix, toxic shock syndrome, HIV infections. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 22.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Bellevue, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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