Itch - any advice welcome, getting desperate and worried

[AverageMom]

I have birth 13 weeks ago, and since about 6 weeks postpartum I've had an itch down there.

I self medicated for a couple of weeks with all the thrush treatments I could get my hands on, then went to the GUM clinic (twice!) and each time they have been flummoxed as I don't have any STDs, yeast infection or BV.

I've now been to the doctors and she's just given me a painkiller topical cream but that's just kind of masking the problem. She's told me to go back in two weeks.

I'm getting really worried now, can anyone advise? All that comes up online is nothing that I have or bloody vulvar cancer. I've been examined 3 times so surely someone would've flagged this if they were worried?

It's taking over now and making me really anxious. Sorry for the ramble.

[3littlefrogs]

You probably need some oestrogen cream or pessaries.
Are you suffering from "dryness" as well?

It can take a while for hormones to settle down, especially if you are breast feeding.

Lack of oestrogen causes horrendous itching and soreness.

The other possibility it allergy to something - washing powder, bath or shower products etc.

[AverageMom]

I haven't changed any products so it's not that and I'm being so careful about anything coming into contact down there so I'm pretty sure it's not that.

Id never heard of lack of oestrogen, though I do have PCOS so I wonder if it's related to that...

Thank you for replying, I just feel like I'm getting more and more anxious about it being "something bad" as time goes on

[AverageMom]

I've stopped using sanitary towels, so can't be that. I wish it was something simple!

[catonlap]

Threadworm?

[TheMagicToyshop]

I get this too and I hate to worry you but I still haven't got a diagnosis two years on! Push for a specialist referral to a gynae and dermatologist sooner rather than later. In the meantime I find aqueous cream very soothing, I use it as a wash in the shower and as a cream.

[SixImpossible]

You can become allergic to something you've always used without any problems, so not using anything new doesn't really mean anything.

But there is still a lot of hormonal readjustment going on in your body right now, which could be causing this.

There's an aloe bera based gel that I have used for this sort of unexplained discomfort. It's called Biofem, IIRC. I used to have a lot of problems with itching that wasn't thrush, and the gel soothed it. When the itching was at its worst the gel felt tingly and hot, whereas other times it felt cool, so so I think there was some sort of inflammation or something.

What sorted the itch in the end was discovering that I am allergic to fragrances, and switching laundry products and all shower products to fragrance free. It comes back every single time I use panty liners, though.

[AverageMom]

Lots of useful suggestions here, thank you.

I stopped using shower gel a few weeks ago to see if that helped. Will change to fragrance free everything to see if that helps.

[AverageMom]

themagictoyshop that's terrible! Have you been referred yet?

[AverageMom]

All suggestions welcome FabULouse, don't apologise!

[FantaSea]

Have you tried washing the area with water only? There are still detergents in fragrance free products and it could be any one of those things you are reacting to. Also, I was told to 'air ' the area as much as possible, which is actually hard when you have a new baby to look after, but it did help.

Really hope you get it sorted soon and congratulations on your baby.

[Maverick66]

Hi OP,

I too have this problem. I have been referred for all sorts of tests but everything is clear. However, I am 47 so perimenopausal. The solution I have come up with and that actually works is an anti histamine. The relief is amazing. It is most likely hormonal :) I take the itch just before my period and it would derive you insane! I use cetrozine anti histamine/ allergy relief. Hope this helps.

Congratulations on your new baby :)

[TheMagicToyshop]

Hi Averagemom just saw your question, yup I've got a consultant now but he wants to 'rule out' thrush first so I'm on an 8 week anti fungal course. I'm certain it's not thrush but hopefully other things can be explored once that's ruled out. It's a frustrating situation, I do feel women's health issues are often dismissed by doctors as something we just have to put up with

[AverageMom]

maverick that sounds like a good idea, I'm going to give them a go

magic that's terrible! Wouldn't thrush show on a swab? I agree, the GP made me feel like an idiot but it's driving me crazy. I noticed I didn't have it when I had my period, so perhaps it could be hormonal..

[magimedi]

Maverick this is possibly for your info & for any other peri/post menopausal woman.

I've posted this before as I do feel very strongly, that more women need to be aware of this:



I am now post menoapuse & recently suffered from vaginal atrophy (VA). I had always thought I was a woman who knew about things & was aware of my body, but VA really took me by surprise .

It's not something that is common knowledge & I so wish it was - as it is a real curse of the late/post menopause for many women.

I've copied & pasted from another post I made about it as I do feel that women should be aware of it so they can recognize the symptoms.

Vaginal Atrophy (VA) is what happens post menopause & it is my mission to make more women aware of it.

Basically (& you can google for the finer details) the lack of eostrogen causes great dryness up your fanjo. It makes sex painful & also leads to itchiness that makes thrush seem mild. It is horrible & causes enormous discomfort. I had to rush to the loo just to scratch - the itchiness is almost unbearable. The itch is both inside your fanjo & all over your vulva

If you are menopausal or post menopause & get an itch and/or great dryness do look at the possibility that it could be VA & go to see your GP.

It is easily sorted out with topical eostrogen in the form of 'Vagifem', a small pessary that is inserted into the vagina with an applicator.

You need a 25mcg dose daily for 2 weeks & then twice weekly for 4 weeks & then a maintenance dose of 10mcg twice weekly.

There is a great deal of argument about giving women vagifem long term &, it seems to me, that many health professionals are not up to date with recent research.

I discussed this with my GP with this piece of research:

//www.menopausematters.co.uk/newsitem.php?recordID=83

You do need to keep up to date with mammograms & smears but otherwise no side effects.

I tell a lie about the side effects - it has hugely helped my pelvic floor (this is well documented). I can now cough without fear of leakage.

I was lucky & had a GP who instantly diagnosed VA - but, sadly, it is not something that is well known or discussed.

IT NEEDS TO BE! (I know I am shouting!)

[magimedi]

Averagemom - sorry if this hi jacks your thread a little & I hope your itch gets sorted asap - it is so awful.