[B][FONT=Arial][SIZE=7][COLOR=blue]I know this sounds quite horrible but does any1 have a very itchy vagina all the time it is very annoying because sometimes when i am out or something i canit excactly start scratching, i have also notice very tiny little white spots aswel they are squeezable i duno what to do because i am FAR 2 embarressed 2 go 2 a doctor??

Well, I'd get the little white spots checked out - you could just have yeast, or some kind of bacteria.

While in my 30's, I had vaginal itching every day for about 10 years - just about drove me crazy. I had it checked - no bacteria or yeast. My vaginal area was swollen and sore a lot of the time, too. They gave me a diagnosis of "nonspecific vaginitis" - helpful, huh?! The only thing that helped was smearing on Benedryl cream.

It completely stopped when I started taken Ester-C supplements (vitamin C with the acid removed) - don't ask me why! When I stopped taking them after a few months, the itching never came back.

Good luck to you - I know how this can drive a person nuts.




Jacquie

My work friend had these white spots which drove her crazy. Are you on HRT (patch)?

Thanx Jackie i mite try Benedryl or the vitimans i am glad there is other people out there who know what it is like cos it drives me MAD no i am not on the hrt patch

I found out I was sensitive/ possibly allergic to laytex because of vaginal itching.
Might be something to look into.

When I get this horrible itching I take Macrobid (antibiotic) for one to three days and it stops it cold. You do need a prescription for it.

jean

Try to use some warm water and ordinary soap, if still itching thats the time to use some brands.

Diamond

Sorry to hear about the itching. I would suggest that you go to the doc, just to be on the safe side. Also, I would avoid soap and just stick to lukewarm water as soap usually makes itching worse.

Dear Diamond:

I experienced severe vaginal itching as a preteen, which went away on its own. It reappeared when I was 26 and stayed with me for approximately 10 years like Jacqui. I finally went to the doctor and he did a biopsy of my vulva. The results indicated some atrophy and irritation. The doctor prescribed some testosterone cream which helped some, but not enough.

I finally found a doc. in New York's St. Lukes Hospital (they have a vulva clinic) who diagnosed me with lichen sclerosus and prescribed a very strong steriod called Temovate. This medication was a Godsend since the minute I used it the itching went away. I used it for two weeks and then once a week or as needed. It continues to help me till today, although now that I'm peri I get more flare ups.

Lichen sclerosus is a skin condition which can affect any part of the body. It can affect children and men, but it is usually found in the vulva of post menopausal women so there might be a hormone connection.

Diamond, please don't be embarrassed to go to your GYN doc and tell him/her about what you are experiencing. If I hadn't I would still be suffering needlessly.

If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

Red.
P.S. I believe there is a hormone connection to my condition because I usually get flare-ups right before my periods and my condition would also get much better when I was pregnant.

i am glad someone else has brought up Lichen Sclerosis - it was one thing i thought of immediately after seeing the topic of Itching... i have had a bout of this myself, and the itching was severe!! a crazy making itch! and white patches of skin that i just knew were not anything else like thrush etc... i also had a couple of white patches on my breasts..

go see a doc if you itch badly!!!! it may only be some dryness, or a fungal related thing, but if it is the start of LS, you need to see a doc! i found the docs i saw, including a gyno, did not know what it was! had never heard of LS, but i persisted, as i knew from reading about it online, and finally a dermatologist confirmed my diagnosis - and altho it's described as incurable, i have had no issues with it since he treated me, even tho it took months to get under control, and i lost most of my labia to it - shrinkage and fusion is common if it's untreated... this disease can turn into vulval cancer if left untreated, in a small percentage of cases, i think from memory it's only a 4% chance - it's enough.

i have since wanted to line those docs who didn't know about it, and wouldn't listen to me, up against a wall... shooting would be too quick for them tho.

i forgot to add, that LS is only confirmed by biopsy, and is still listed as being of 'unknown origin' - no one cause of this disease has been identified - commonly thought to be one of the auto immune diseases, like Rheumatoid Arthritis, SLE (Lupus) etc.. as i have SLE, skin things are not uncommon anyway - and hormonal imbalances do not help!

Dear Zen:

How did your doc. treat your Lichen Sclerosus???? Mine usually flares up during my period and right after. Although I have been using the Temovate, lately it hasn't been helping like it use to.

Thanks for the info.

Red

Garnet - i know names of creams etc will not be the same at all between countries, but we started with an ultra potent, very strong corticosteroid ointment - Diprosone OV, for a couple of months twice a day, then down to a less strong version of the same thing, then gradually down through two more creams of lessening strength, and only once a day, then to once every other day, and finally a milder cream altogether three times a week only - a gradual process that took some months, till i showed some signs of unfusing, and there was no white patches or crinkly tissue paper look to my vulva at all.. not to mention losing that horribly uncomfortable feeling. i used one of the lesser strength corticosteroids on the patches on my breast, and they finally went away too..

now i use no creams at all - but i still take some precautions, i use cotton wool squares instead of toilet paper, altho not with baby oil now.. never use soap - i use a non drying dematological wash instead, and if i feel at all dry, i use an emolient ointment till i feel good again.. i no longer have regular periods (three only this year so far) but did not notice flare ups at period time when i had them..

my treatment seems to have put it into total remission. i wish i had a memory, but i've not needed to use anything for most of this year. no itch. no rash. no white patches.

what precautions are you taking? are you using an emolient, you need to not let your vulva dry out.. you only used the ointment or cream for two weeks?? this amazes me... do you have thick looking white patches or crinkly whitish looking skin? do you have fusion or shrinkage? it may not be LS if you have none of those symptoms... you said you had a biopsy, but did not say if it was LS that was confirmed.

I just saw this post. I, too, have had bouts of itching that nearly drove me crazy. At first I was diagnosed with a yeast infection, took a prescription cream which burned like crazy, felt fine for a month, but as soon as I ovulated, it came back. This went on for almost TWO years straight (and I was a newlywed!). My GYN said I had some atrophy, and prescribed Estrace cream, which screwed up my cycle, gave me headaches and made me break out. So I stopped it. I tried every kind of goop and gel I could think of. Nothing helped.

I was really at the brink of snapping when my general doctor (who is also a nutritionist) suggested that I have a pH problem. I started using something called Aci-Jel, which is a clear jelly that is acidic in nature and helps balance the pH of the vagina. Apparently, having a pH that is too alkaline can cause itching, irritation, and infections. Also, at certain times of your cycle, your pH naturally gets more alkaline--like at ovulation or before/during your period.

So.... I started to use this Aci-Jel stuff and it was a GOD SEND!!! It got everything under control. At first I used it every day for a week, then tapered off and now I only use it once or twice a month (usually the week before my period) if I start to feel any itchy symptoms.

Sometimes it turns out to be a very simple problem that easily treated. Unfortunately, most doctors immediately think YEAST.

Karen