Vulva skin conditions/inflammation and painful sex
If you are experiencing pain, burning, itching, or stinging on or around the vulva and vaginal entrance during or after sex, then you want to rule out that there is a skin condition or inflammatory response occurring. You may also have these symptoms at other times, other than around intercourse and may find that wearing tight clothing or pads will increase irritation.
Things to look out for include:
- Redness or swelling of the vulva
- Burning or itching with wearing tight clothing, during or after intercourse or with urination
- Cracking or splitting of the base of the vaginal opening (posterior fourchette) or blood/spotting during or after intercourse
- Whitening of the skin (Leukoplakia)
- Discharge that is different to normal, e.g. with an odour or change in colour.
Reasons for irritation/pain could be the following:
- Dermatological conditions such as Lichens Sclerosus, Lichens Planus, Psoriasis, or eczema
- Vestibulodynia or vulvodynia
- Thrush
- Contact dermatitis which may be caused by soap, perfumes, sprays, etc..
What to do about it?
If these are left untreated it is likely that your symptoms will get worse not better. Read our article here about why you should avoid sex when you have thrush.
The first port of call is to visit your GP to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
You can also implement a few things into your daily life like wearing loose fitting clothes that allow air flow, not staying in sweaty clothes/underwear longer than necessary, changing pads regularly, and avoiding washing your genitals with anything other than warm water (no soaps or perfumes!).
If symptoms persist after you have been diagnosed and medically treated, then seeking a referral to a pelvic floor physio may be advised to address any muscle or nerve components contributing to your pain. Read here about reasons for painful sex - which can be triggered from an underlying skin condition.
