Labia itch after period

December 14, 2018 7:04 AM

Labia itching after period and I would like it to stop, please.

All the details:

- The problem started over the summer.
- Age 46, born with female parts.
- Not on hormones.
- Copper IUD in place for 4 years.
- The itching starts on day 4 or 5 of my period. It's on the right side only. Close to the clitoris/urethra area.
- No tampons. (I use a menstrual cup that gets boiled every cycle and cloth panty liners.)
- No douching.
- No scented soaps.
- No waxing.
- Shaving: the itch comes whether I have shaved or not.
- I shower every day.
- I change into fresh underwear after I come back from a workout.
- No odor.
- No unusual discharge.
- No raised rash or bumps.
- No pain.
- No burning.

What the doctor said:
"The skin looks unhappy." Doc ran tests for whatever the standard culprits would be. I called and the office said the test results did not show any problems. Doc prescribed Nystatin and I did a full 10 day course of it. And then the next month the problem returned so I did another 10 day course. And now it's the third month and the itch is back.

Interesting coincidence that could be a clue:
- My child has an itchy red stripe in the crease where the thigh meets the groin, only on the right side. I noticed this on the kid when we came back from camping this summer and thought it was chafing from biking in the heat. I did the Nystatin 10-day course there as well, and the spot is still red and itches.

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

I would ask to see a specialized dermatologist, especially if you are in an area with lots of hospitals. There are several conditions that could cause "unhappy looking skin" that many general practitioners don't see often or understand. I have one of these and was diagnosed and greatly helped by a dermatologist. She basically saved my life because I was in absolute agony. I am very glad this is not the case for you, but I still recommend a derm. MeMail me if you want more deets but I don't want you to get scared over something that might be super minor.
posted by wellred at 7:11 AM on December 14, 2018

Sounds more like an allergic reaction than a fungal situation, which is what Nystatin is prescribed for. Try changing your clothes washing detergent. Do the cotton panty liners get washed? Also maybe see if Benadryl relieves it.

The fact that it's on one side for both you and your kid si probably just because we're not perfectly symmetrical, we humans.
posted by mareli at 7:16 AM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]

I've started having a similar sounding allergic reaction to my menstrual cup, which SUCKS A LOT but it might be worth checking to see if you have the same reaction during periods when you don't use a menstrual cup.
posted by ChuraChura at 8:03 AM on December 14, 2018 [2 favorites]

I read recently that disposable panty liners leave adhesive on your underwear that doesn't wash off and then can irritate the area, so that might not be the best experiment.
posted by aniola at 8:32 AM on December 14, 2018 [1 favorite]

Here’s a fun aspect of having a vagina: pelvic floor spasms can cause labial itching, even if they don’t cause pain. Maybe try ditching the menstrual cup for a month and see if it helps? I have pelvic floor issues and have been told by two different specialists that for some of us lucky souls, cups aggravate the problem.
posted by corey flood at 8:49 AM on December 14, 2018 [2 favorites]

Ime doctors love to prescribe nystatin without actually doing a culture. Please insist on a culture so that the appropriate medication can be prescribed.
posted by vignettist at 9:15 AM on December 14, 2018

When I had these symptoms I finally had a female doctor diagnose chronic yeast infections due to fluctuating hormones - she shrugged and said it happens to some women periodically and can come and go. I have a standing prescription for low dose oral tablet I can take for a few months at a time as needed. She also said fungal creams can be highly irritating and to try a cortisone cream instead.

All of which to say - try a different doctor, maybe a gyno it dermatologist.
posted by jrobin276 at 10:27 AM on December 14, 2018

Whoa, I am in a similar boat, with almost all of the characteristics/behaviors you list, except I don't have an IUD and don't use pantyliners. Also started this summer. My itch is also only on the right side, but it is not near the clitoris at all, it's on my outer labia near (but not in) the thigh crease.

My gyn gave me an ointment that is not an anti-fungal, I think it's a steroid cream. It helps a bit short term but this might be psychosomatic.
posted by desuetude at 11:16 AM on December 14, 2018

You said something about bikes. Have you changed your bike riding at all? Also, were you tested for a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis?
posted by bluedaisy at 12:47 PM on December 14, 2018

I used to boil my menstrual cup religiously & it still gave me cervicitis. I’d rule it out as a problem by switching to tampons or pads for a month or two.
posted by coppermoss at 5:25 PM on December 14, 2018

Do you use panty liners all the time or just during period? Do you wash all your undies cloth liners in hot water? Do you sleep without underwear as you can (I.e, is this something which can be addressed through some air circulation during this time)?
posted by Riverine at 8:10 PM on December 14, 2018

Could be the start of something like lichen sclerosus? A derm could help see things that other doctors don't.
posted by Bunglegirl at 8:15 PM on December 20, 2018