(Jasmine Gomez/Women’s Health) — There are only a few things in this world that can make you more uncomfortable than having *that area* begging for a good scratch fest. There are a lot of dos and don’ts when it comes to cleaning, of course, but what’s the protocol when vaginal itching is keeping you up at night?
Let’s get clear on the subject at hand here: When women talk about vaginal itching, many are actually referring to itching in the vulva, the outer part of the female genitalia, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an ob-gyn and a clinical professor at Yale University School of Medicine. “True vaginal itching is less common,” she adds.
You should also know that itching in the nether regions is very common, and there are many reasons that could explain it, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, an ob-gyn in Westchester County, New York. Really, having an itchy vagina is one of the main reasons people go see their gynecologist, notes Katharine O’Connell White, MD, an ob-gyn and associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University.
Anything from an infection (like a yeast infection or bacteria vaginosis) to skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or pubic lice could be to blame here, says Leah S. Millheiser, MD, a clinical professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford Medicine. (…)