Persistent intimate irritations

How can you get rid of them?

Many women consult a doctor due to persistent intimate irritations which leave them in constant discomfort. Sexual relations become (or continue to be) painful and are increasingly dreaded.

Many women worry and ask themselves questions about their irritations (Could I contaminate him? Am I washing myself properly? Will I become sterile?) and also about their partner (perhaps he’s unfaithful).

The recurrent or persistent aspect of the symptoms can make this an obsessional subject and cause tension within a relationship.

These symptoms, which are often imprecise and unspecified, but disturbing because they are recurrent, make telephone diagnoses impossible. It is better to consult your doctor and be examined because these irritations should not be treated systematically or haphazardly.

It could be :

– a simple local irritation caused by repeated friction, using a soap that’s too harsh, excessive use of pessaries, or very frequent sexual relations when the mucous membranes are a little dry or the flora is unbalanced. There is no discharge or signs of inflammation or infection. In this case, to wash the mucous membranes daily with a mild soothing cleanser and perhaps also take probiotics, should suffice.

– a residual or recurrent fungal infection causing vulvovaginitis. The most specific symptom is itching, which can be intense. The discharge is sporadic. The mucous membranes are red. In addition to local treatment with pessaries and a cream, an oral treatment should also be taken for several months and a more alkaline pH cleanser should be used.

– “vaginosis”: this occurs when the vagina loses its normal acidity and is colonised by a pathogenic bacteria like Gardnerella. It is easily recognisable by a fishy odour and greyish discharge. It is only dangerous for pregnant women as it could lead to premature birth. For 80% of women, vaginosis can recur within nine months. It should therefore be treated both orally and locally. The vaginal flora should be restored by using probiotics from the lactobacillus family, which stimulate intestinal and vaginal immunity, or prebiotics applied locally in the form of tampons, gels and capsules. The vulvar mucous membranes should also be protected by cleansing the area with a product that respects its pH.

– vestibulitis: this causes constant pain at the entrance to the vagina. Little red spots are due to the inflammation of tiny glands which become abnormally sensitive to pressure. Doctors call it vulvodynia.

– in rare cases, a more serious genital infection, often without symptoms, such as Chlamydia Trachomatis, which requires bacteriological sampling and antibiotics.

What can we learn from this?

Do not systematically self medicate. The treatments differ from one condition to the next. The misuse of pessaries damages the flora and causes symptoms to persist.

Be careful not to use harsh products when washing intimate areas; depending on the cause, ensure you respect the area’s pH and restore the flora with simple products you can find at a pharmacy.

If this doesn’t work, don’t let the problems persist without consulting your doctor because they could have real repercussions on your sex life.