What is this? (Irritated vagina)

[Toastedsesame]

I'm 23 weeks. My vagina is irritated, it feels a little bit itchy but it is mainly swollen and a bit sore. No discharge or foul smell or anything like that. Its been like it since Friday night. Had sex on Friday afternoon but DH is fine and hasn't noticed anything. I can also feel a bit of a throbbing pulse down there.
Has it just got irritated by the extra blood flow, or it is bacterial vaginosis or thrush? I've never had either so not sure!

Your midwife will swab it. Get in contact with them.

Sounds like thrush but contact midwife for swab.

I've had nothing but hassle down there since about 16 weeks.

If the itching feels internal it could be thrush. Just to note I tested negative for thrush but when the problem persisted the GP gave me a prescription for it anyway and it helped.

I also had external itching, and was prescribed a moisturiser and hydrocortisone for that.

I still have some pain, a bit like the pain you get during a heavy period. The GP said that could just be stretching and to take paracetamol.

Good luck!

Thanks guys. My midwives are useless, 3x I've left them messages or tried to make contact and they never ever get back to me. Doctors I am 7th in the queue every time I try so I may have to be persistent tomorrow.

@Toastedsesame if you’ve used thrush cream before then maybe just get some of the external stuff to use whilst you’re trying to get through to someone. I’ve had thrush countless times in this pregnancy!

Exactly the same boat here! 18 weeks pregnant and had a bit of quality time with DH.. and now have thrush. Fir me started with the symptoms you said and then came with the discharge a few days later. I've had it before so was able to spot it. Doctor said I could use the caneston pessary and cream I had at home from before...but if you've never had either it's important you speak to them before a lot if pharmacies won't sell it to you whilst pregnant so you'll need a prescription from GP x

I had thrush whilst pregnant & I didn’t bother going through the midwife (they were a nightmare). I just bought some canestan at the pharmacy, it has to be the pessary though as you can’t take the oral tablet whilst pregnant.

@Newmama29 did they sell it to you? Others saying pharmacy won't if you're pregnant.

@Toastedsesame sounds like thrush to me, I had it early on in pg. I did go to GP and go prescribed some Canesten pessaries. But if you can't get through to GP I believe you can get an appt with a pharmacist and they can prescribe them as they are safe for use in pregnancy

@Toastedsesame I bought mine when I was pregnant. If they get funny just say it’s for your sister - it’s safe during pregnancy.

Sounds like thrush but if you’re visibly pregnant, they won’t give you it as it’s unlicensed

Oh also make sure you don’t use the applicator with the pessary. Just your finger while pregnant

I really suffered from thrush in my second pregnancy. It was unbearable! Canesten did the trick though.

Sounds like thrush

Could very well be thrush, but my vulva swells up like crazy from the middle of pregnancy so it could just be vascular congestion

@Toastedsesame yeah they did but I went to one of the bigger pharmacies & they just took me into a little room to ask some questions. I know some pharmacies are different & can give different medication like antibiotics etc without a prescription. I went to a big boots

Ok so the story continues.. I bought the pessary and gel from boots on Tuesday, used pessary Tues night. Felt much more normal all of Wednesday but tonight it's starting to itch and feel irritated again 😭

At this point do I call gp, try another pack or give it more time?