Vaginal Itching

[glassd18]

Sorry about the topic, but I'm going absolutely crazy...I have terrible vaginal itching. I do not have discharge or anything suspicious going on. I have told my gyno about this on several occasions, and she tests me for yeast and it's always negative. I am premature menopausal (well not so premature anymore because I'm 42 now), and take Estrogel once a day. I don't know if it's the HRT causing the itching or what, but it is driving me crazy. Anybody have any ideas?

[glassd18]

Oh yes and I forgot to add that I use Tide Free for Senstive Skin, My fabric softener is also free of fragrance for sensitive skin, and my shower soap is Dove Senstive Skin free of fragrance etc... This one is baffling me.

[Roxie2007]

I get the vaginal itching too with no positive yeast tests. It's crazy! I usually go ahead and buy the Monistat 3 day stuff and go ahead and use it and it usually helps. So I don't know if it was yeast and just not culturing for it or what....I hope you get your problem figured out! Roxie

[kadi]

Itching without infection can be vulvodynia. You might try a diet low in oxalates, or take calcium citrate when you eat foods high in oxalates (like blueberries or spinach). I find that if I eat blueberries or spinach & forget to take the calcium citrate, I itch like crazy!

You might also get a small perienal water bottle (available in the ICN shop linked at the top of the page) to rinse with during & after urination to reduce irritation from urine.

My doctor also prescribed me a topical lidocaine to use during itching flareups, it does help.

Hope you feel better soon!

[kadi]

If those tips don't help, then I do what Roxie suggested, but I use the 7 day Monistat cream (milder). I avoid Diflucan or the Monistat ovule, they both cause me to burn horribly.

[ICNDonna]

First of all, I suggest not using fabric softener on your underwear. I know it's an irritant for many people. And I suggest you try double rinsing your underpants to be certain all the soap is gone. And it could be that Dove is a problem, even though most people can use it. You might try Cetaphil (not sure of the spelling) or Neutrogena.

Are you wearing underpants with cotton crotches? If not, you might try those to see if it helps.

Donna

[tigger_gal]

most gyns do not test for bacterial vaginousis (hope thats spelled right), you might want to ask for them to test you and get a script of metro-gel

so sorry you are having a rough day. Feel better soon.

[glassd18]

Thanks everyone. All of my undies have cotton gussets so no problem there. I never thought that my softener that is free of dyes and perfumes could still irritate me so I think I'll wash my undies separately without softener and a little less soap, and an extra rinse to see how that pans out. The Dove body wash, not bar soap, I use is not the regular Dove. I use the one formulated for sensitive skin. It is free of dyes perfumes etc... I have always been senstive so I have been careful in that department for a long time. Regarding the Monistat: I used it once after IC developed, and it burned so bad, and flared me terribley. I don't even let the gyno use regular gel when she examines me. Just water. I wonder why my doctor never suggests another problem when I test negative. She basically shrugs her shoulders, and says I don't know! Thanks so much again everyone!!!

[icbop]

Hello,

I have this too--but now I think I have VV (biopsy showed inflammation). Has anyone ever been tested for the cytolytic vaginosis (basically an overgrowth not of yeast but of lactobacillus)? I keep asking my doctor abut this bc the symptoms mimic yeast infections. I know I am not having yeast bc they tested my biopsy for yeast and it was fine.

I think what needs to be done for the lactobacillus test is to test the vaginal Ph and then look for fake clue cells.

I wish my doctor would do this, bc it might be what it going on. If it is, then yeast creams, duflucan tablets, etc. are really a bda idea and will make it worse.

Thanks!

[jen74]

There are so many things that can cause itching down there such as vulva vestibulitis, but usually you will also have pain as well with VV. There is also allergic reaction to something,the start of Lichen Sclerosis, etc... I would see a dermatologist if I were you. They know alot more about skin issues. I would see one who deals with vulva issues though or at least has knowledge in that area.
Jen

[glassd18]

I should add that the itching I have comes and goes, but when it itches it REALLY itches. I think it has something to do with low estrogen levels, and vaginal atrophy possibly. Anyhow I'm due for my annual exam so I will talk to him while I'm there to see what he thinks. I do not have painful intercourse though which is usually associated with the above mentioned VV. Thanks again everyone for your support.

[sami4]

I have been diagnosed with VV and I never have pain with sexual intercourse. My symptoms were red, sore vulva for days after. I used to have red, soreness with no yeast or infection. I think mine was caused by a chronic yeast infection that damaged the nerves.
Then I had a hysterectomy and was put on hormone pellets instead of a cream or Estrace. I had a "normal" estrogen level. With the hormone pellets I had an estrogen level which was about double what I was used to, and guess what? All the vulvar symptoms dissapeared like magic. I also had evidence of vaginal atrophy at the time of the pellet insertion. I was on oral estrogen all this time.
I have concluded, for me, I just plain didnt have enough estrogen for my system; and that is more than the average woman.
When I wash my undies, after the first wash, I rewash with no soap or chemicals through the whole cycle. Then dry with no dryer sheets. See if maybe this helps, if its a contact thing.
Sammi

[KristiV]

I have had itching problems as well. I have been using replens, which is over the counter, twice a week, and estrace cream for the outside, and I believe my symptoms have improved. You might want to try that.

[glassd18]

I just got back in town so I'm a little late reading these, but thank you for your input. All these things have to be brought up at my next appointment. I am so tired of getting no where with all these doctors. I'm even seeing an endocrinologist whom I though for sure would figure it out, but he sent me home with Estrogel, and I don't think it's doing the trick.

[humpieumpumkin]

Vaginal Dryness can cause itching as well. :rant: Especially the way your hormones are going right now, you may want to try a vaginal moisturizer such as Replens. Hope your feeling better soon.

Erika:hi:

[stac7_8]

For the itching... You could try getting summer's eve fem Wash or Bath. I use it because I can't use soap down there.

I will have the worst itching in the world n get a yeast or bac infection.

I'm not even able to take a bath and wash my body with soap. I use the wash all over if I'm going to take a bath.

If you want bubbles......use that also cause it bubbles up very nicely:woohoo:

I hope this helps....the only other thing that I could tell you to try is use some vaseline. I do that sometimes cause I think it is getting to dry and then I start itching. I had a hysterecotmy back in Dec so I'm on HRT and sometimes it just gets dry!!!

I am wishing you all the best of luck.

[glassd18]

Thanks again. I've been using Vagifem or Vagiguard, and that helps because it has aloe and lidocaine (few)!!! I can't use replens because it causes me to flare. I have to tell the gyno to use only water when I go. Monistat flares me too. The last few days haven't been too bad.

[Ann Doyon]

I have vaginal itching as well and use Dove soap and dye free detergent. I wash my underwear and rinse twice. I had a break from the itching for about 6 months and now it's back. It's driving me crazy. I have prescription cortisone ointment that I can use but it only works some of the time. I am 46 and am wondering if it could be hormone related. My IC is fairly good now if only I could stop itching! Any thoughts?

[purpletomorrow]

I had the same problem and it turned out to be an allergic reaction to the feminine wipes I was using in that area. The inflammation was so bad that my GYN thought it was Lichen sclerosus, see this link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen_Sclerosis

Please talk to your doctor about Lichen sclerosus. It's around the vulva and it itches like hell. Mine was mild and brought under control by occasional application of very strong steroid cream, Clobetasol.

[purpletomorrow]

I also want to stress how important it seems to be for many women to replace vaginal estrogen lost as we age. The lack of that hormone seems to cause a lot of problems for some of us.

I use VagiFem; others use Estrace; the lack of estrogen clearly caused some of my itching and bladder misery. I"m much better now.

Laura

[KristiV]

Have you changed toilet paper? I found out that I was allergic to charmin and now use angel soft.

[glassd18]

Wow this is an old post!!! I still have vaginal itching. I also use Dove sensitive skin fragrance free body wash. I no longer use the Vagifem tabs. I take my estradiol hormone replacement tablets vaginally now. I itch like crazy, and it really makes IC worse. I was given a prescription called Lotrizone cream, and that does help, but I hate having to put more moisture down there as it also can breed yeast problems as well. I have a history of yeast infections, and itching before my menstrual cycle when I was younger which is also an known problem, but I can't remember what it's called. This bladder thing and itching is definitely hormone related somehow.

[glassd18]

Hmm never thought about that. I've used different brands but never paid attention to any differences in how I felt afterward. I do use Cottonelle wipes, and wonder if they are a problem? I also used whichhazel bathrooms wipes too.

[purpletomorrow]

It took MONTHS for the wipes to trigger the allergic reaction in my.

My GYN took a biopsy (ouch!) to test for Lichen Sclerosis.

I quit using the wipes and started the Clobetasol she gave me, and was noticeably better within days.

Now I recommend NO WIPES of any kind down there.

-Laura

[glassd18]

Okay so cut the wipes out and see what happens. I'll try it and see. I guess a perianal wash bottle would be a better solution.

[Ann Doyon]

Thanks for all your replies. My dermatologist says that it is not lichen sclerosis and I do have strong steriod ointment. The weird thing is that I had a bad itching flare up until Sept of 2008 and then it went away until now! I don't know what triggered it. It's kind of like the IC. Sometimes you just don't know. Thanks and if anyone else thinks of something let me know.