Itchy perineum (possible tmi)

[breadandhoney]

This started before I was pregnant so perhaps I shouldn't be posting here but I am starting to get a bit concerned that it could affect my labour in dec. My perineum is extremely itchy and I find it very hardtop avoid scratching after using the toilet. I also wake myself up through the night scratching really hard. I usually have blood under my fingernails by the time I wake. I have what feels like a scab or small spot on my anus and the whole area is cut to pieces.

I have finally booked an appointment with gp for Friday but I was hoping someone here may be able to shed some light on the subject so I don't have to be inspected down there by my male gp who I know dislikes anything gynae!

My guesses have ranges from thrush (although the itch is more along my perineum and around my anus than my vagina) to threadworms (but I haven't noticed anything in my stools and no one else in the household is suffering).

If you've read this far I'm impressed (and very embarrassed) and would appreciate any suggestions.

Ouch! I've had this and it was recurrent thrush. I keep canesten cream in the bathroom to use when it starts up overnight and that seems to help while I get treatment sorted.

Isn't thrush usually around and inside the vagina?

Id put money on ecxzema. (sp)

Piles? They don't have to be prolapsed to itch. And it's often post bowel movement the itching increases.

Keep your nails short and filed blunt. Or maybe socks on your hands at night! At least you'll minimise the damage the scratching is doing whilst you're asleep.

If it's itchy and sore and small amounts of blood, could it be from constipation and small tears after going for a poo? If your poos are hard or big, then it could be some damage from that? If so, up your fibre intake and increase your water too. I've just found out that probiotics can help constipation in pregnancy, which is common because your body pulls more nutrients out of your food to feed baby and can leave your body unbalanced. I don't normally have dairy but have started eating organic natural yoghurt with breakfast. Yes, I'm suffering a bit too, although seem to have improved the situation by upping my usual fruit intake.

Aloe gel (available from places like Hollland and Barrett) will ease the itching and you can get 100% aloe gel (and organic too) which is completely natural. Try putting on a blob instead of scratching, it is very soothing and should help you to heal so you don't get into the horrid itch and scratch cycle.

Horrible though, I suffer from this from time to time and it's misery. Hope it gets better soon.

I had similar symptoms and finally worked out I was allergic to the toilet paper I was using. I know it sounds mad but so far I've figured out I can't use any Asda brand paper or any of that shea butter or aloe vera stuff. If I use charmin I'm absolutely fine. And I'm not pregnant, just weirdly allergic to random stuff.

I have vulvar eczema (on and off) and it sounds a lot like what you're describing. It's often misdiagnosed as thrush. I have it inside my labia but apparently it's quite common for it to affect the anus area and perineum too. I don't have eczema anywhere else on my body.

No cure sadly but steroid cream helps.

I like princess's suggestion of aloe gel, I might try that.

Thank you all so much for your replies. All of the above sound possible to me. I'm just going to have to go to the gp and bare all aren't I?
I will certainly mention eczema - something I hadn't even considered - and see what he says. I'm 32 weeks now and starting to think about the birth. I'm so worried that all this scratching and all the cuts will mean that I will tear easily. Dd was 8lb11oz and this baby is measuring well above 90th centile at the moment. I am determined to do all I can to prepare for a natural birth.

I also have eczema on my inner ear as well apparently! But nowhere else!

Try sudocreme!

Are the cuts caused by the scratching, or are they tiny splits/tears in the skin which appear by themselves?

If the latter, that is exactly what I get (inside my outer labia) as a result of the ezcema. It's like having paper cuts in that area, iyswim.

Also, is there any sign of flaking skin - bits of skin coming off or bits of rolled up skin when you wipe? Again this is something else I have and it is the ezcema.

By way of warning, I went to several GPs with my complaint and it was only when I got referred to a vulvar dermatologist that it was diagnosed as ezcema. The GPs thought it was 1) thrush (despite negative swab test) 2) early menopausal drying for which I was prescribed hormone cream 3) "just one of those things" ... So, don't be shy about pressing for a referral to a specialist if need be.

Oh and I also worry that it means I'm more likely to tear during labour. Will be able to tell you in about 6 weeks' time...

OP I sympathise with you on this and if it's anything like I experienced it's blooming awful! Cos it itches you wipe harder with toilet paper etc, then end up itchingmore and then it's just a vicious circle!

Last year before pregnancy I couldn't deal with it anymore and went to the DR's with it- I was prescribed the steroid cream that actually made it worse in the long run.

So I went back and a lovely nurse who had experienced this before herself said to just try some double base cream to wash and put on throughout- it's a miracle cure in my opinion. The cream is a a barrier and really really helps me

I've found that being pregnant I am more "moist" downstairs and the problem has flaired up again- so back to copious Doublebase cream again

You can buy it without a prescription (you've got to get it from the prescription counter though) , is apparently commonly used but like you and I women don't talk about it.

I now actually get it on prescription for a massive tub thing as I've been using it far more (am 30 weeks)

Hope that helps

Hi I’m new to this but had the same problem for years and I was told it was lichen sclerious hard to sort out but with right creams etc should lesson the irritation do not use soap but dermol lotion helps and to wipe myself I have to use pure cuttin wool wipes as toilet roll make it so much worse