No vaginal discharge, but itchy down there? Blame these 6 culprits

An itchy vagina is not just annoying, it’s also embarrassing! You agree, don’t you? Sometimes, when we feel the vaginal discharge dripping onto the underwear, we know the itch is about to happen, but what if vaginal itching occurs without the discharge?

Sometimes a lack of discharge or excessive discharge can be a symptom of vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BA), sexually transmitted disease (STD), or a yeast infection. However, if your vulva or vaginal area are persistently itchy without discharge, it should make you raise an eyebrow.

HealthShots got in touch with Dr Shalini Vijay, Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Maharashtra, to understand whether this may be a cause to worry. According to her, vaginal itching and burning are among the common conditions faced by women. But to stop it, you need to look for its root cause.

Causes of an itchy vagina without discharge:

1. Razor burn

Shaving hair in the pubic area leads to razor burn and bumps. This is same as shaving other parts of the body. You will see that your skin down there is swollen and red with itchy bumps. It will be sensitive to touch. A razor can remove the top layer of skin and the bacteria can invade the vagina causing external itching.

2. Sweating

One tends to sweat in the genital region. Yes, the sweat glands down there are just the same that are in the armpit known as apocrine glands. When a protein from that sweat tends to interact with bacteria on the skin, there will be an unpleasant odor. As sweat dries, it can also make your vagina itchy.

Also Read

Bubble baths are bad for vaginal health: Myth or fact? Read Now

3. Lichen planus

Skin conditions such as desquamative vaginitis and lichen planus are a patchy white rash which can make skin thin, pale, and wrinkly and that causes intense itching. The exact cause of this condition is unknown but it may be an autoimmune disease.

4. Eczema

Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis that can lead to itching and redness of the skin. Female genital eczema can also be worrisome and affects the vulva leading to external vaginal itching with no discharge.

5. Genital herpes

Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection marked by genital pain and sores along with itchiness. Sexually transmitted diseases spread true bodily fluid such as saliva vaginal secretions and semen. And this disease can have a number of symptoms such as fever, headache, body ache, itching, and swollen lymph glands.

AHA - Ask Healthshots Anything An AI-powered chatbot to answer all your health-related queries Chat Now

6. Pubic lice

Pubic lice is commonly called crabs. It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that causes vaginal itching. These tiny insects live on your pubic hair, near the genital and they can lead to itching, fatigue, fever, and irritability down there.

If you’ve been experiencing Itching for a long time and it’s not getting better, then you need to determine the underlying cause of external vaginal itching with the help of a doctor and seek prompt treatment.