Why do my private parts itch after a period

Other causes of vaginal discharge and itching may be:

Vaginal itching and discharge – adult and adolescent

Vaginal discharge refers to secretions from the vagina. The discharge may be:

• Thick, pasty, or thin
• Clear, cloudy, bloody, white, yellow, or green
• Odorless or have a bad odor

Itching of the skin of the vagina and the surrounding area (vulva) may be present along with vaginal discharge. It can also occur on its own.

Causes

Glands in the cervix and the walls of the vagina normally produce clear mucus. This is very common among women of childbearing age.

• These secretions may turn white or yellow when exposed to the air.
• The amount of mucus produced varies during the menstrual cycle. This happens due to the change in hormone levels in the body.

The following factors can increase the amount of normal vaginal discharge:

• Ovulation (the release of an egg from your ovary in the middle of menstrual cycle)
• Pregnancy
• Sexual excitement

Different types of infections may cause itching or an abnormal discharge in the vagina. Abnormal discharge means abnormal color (brown, green), and odor. It is associated with itching or irritation.

• Infections spread during sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea (GC), and trichomoniasis.
• Vaginal yeast infection, caused by a fungus.
• Normal bacteria that live in the vagina overgrow and cause a gray discharge and fishy odor. This is called bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is not spread through sexual contact.

Other causes of vaginal discharge and itching may be:

• Menopause and low estrogen levels. This may lead to vaginal dryness and other symptoms (atrophic vaginitis).
• Forgotten tampon or foreign body. This may cause a foul odor.
• Chemicals found in detergents, fabric softeners, feminine sprays, ointments, creams, douches, and contraceptive foams or jellies or creams. This may irritate the vagina or the skin around the vagina.

Less common causes include:

• Cancer of the vulva, cervix, vagina, uterus, or fallopian tubes
• Skin conditions, such as desquamative vaginitis and lichen planus

Home Care

Keep your genital area clean and dry when you have vaginitis. Make sure to seek help from health care provider for the best treatment.

• Avoid soap and just rinse with water to clean yourself. Using a spray bottle to wash with water after urination may be helpful.
• Soaking in a warm but not hot bath may help your symptoms. Dry thoroughly afterward. Rather than using a towel to dry, you may find that gentle use of warm or cold air from a hair dryer may result in less irritation than the use of a towel.

Avoid douching. Many women feel cleaner when they douche, but it may actually worsen symptoms because it removes healthy bacteria that line the vagina. These bacteria help protect against infection.

Avoid current popular trends like vaginal steaming which may increase risk of vaginal infections.

• Avoid using hygiene sprays, fragrances, or powders in the genital area.
• Use pads and not tampons while you have an infection.
• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels in good control.

Allow more air to reach your genital area. You can do this by:

• Wearing loose-fitting clothes and not wearing panty hose.
• Wearing cotton underwear (rather than synthetic), or underwear that has a cotton lining in the crotch. Cotton increases air flow and decreases moisture buildup.
• Not wearing underwear.

Girls and women should also:

• Know how to properly clean their genital area while bathing or showering.
• Wipe properly after using the toilet — always from front to back.
• Wash thoroughly before and after using the bathroom.

Always practice safe sex. Use condoms to avoid catching or spreading infections.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider right away if:

• You have vaginal discharge
• You have fever or pain in your pelvis or belly area
• You may have been exposed to STIs

Changes that could indicate a problem such as infection include:

• You have a sudden change in the amount, color, odor, or consistency of discharge.
• You have itching, redness, and swelling in the genital area.
• You think that your symptoms may be related to a medicine you are taking.
• You are concerned that you may have a STI or you are unsure if you have been exposed.
• You have symptoms that get worse or last longer than 1 week despite home care measures.
• You have blisters or other sores on your vagina or vulva.
• You have burning with urination or other urinary symptoms. This may mean that you have a urinary tract infection.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Your provider will:

• Ask about your medical history
• Perform a physical exam including a pelvic exam

Tests that may be performed include:

• Cultures of your cervix
• Examination of vaginal discharge under the microscope (wet prep)
• Pap test
• Skin biopsies of the vulvar area

Treatment depends on the cause of your symptoms.

Alternative Names

Pruritus vulvae; Itching – vaginal area; Vulvar itching

Images

• Female reproductive anatomy
• Vaginal discharge
• Uterus

References

Clutterbuck DJ. Sexually transmitted infections. In: Penman ID, Ralston SH, Strachan MWJ, Hobson RP, eds. Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 15.

Eckert LO, Lentz GM. Genital tract infections: vulva, vagina, cervix, toxic shock syndrome, endometritis, and salpingitis. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 23.

Seller RH, Symons AB. Vaginal discharge and itching. In: Seller RH, Symons AB, eds. Differential Diagnosis of Common Complaints. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 33.

Review Date 8/23/2023

Updated by: LaQuita Martinez, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Alpharetta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Learn how to cite this page

Related MedlinePlus Health Topics

• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Vaginal Diseases

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06/01/2025

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Why do my private parts itch after a period?

Itching of the vagina can happen before, during and after a period. In some women, this can happen every month and depending on its timing, it may have different causes.

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This so called cyclic vulvovaginitis could be related to hormonal fluctuations related to the menstrual cycle. These affect vaginal acidity, causing overgrowth of vaginal small organisms resulting in vaginal itching.

Overgrowth of vaginal candida as well as the vaginal bad bacteria then may cause vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis respectively. Since both can cause vaginal itching, they can be addressed using antifungal treatment and/or flagyl.

Also, hormonal changes before a period can make the vagina dry and itchy until one starts their period and the blood moistens the area, relieving the itching.

Some women may use different things as sanitary towels risking itching of the vagina during a period. Some may be allergic to pads, especially those containing synthetic material necessitating a change to pure cotton pads. Others shave their pubic hair before a period causing itching as the hair grows.

Avoiding shaving altogether or cutting hair short (to stem itchy ingrown hairs) helps prevent itching and burning of the pubic area.
Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (APD) is a rare skin condition (skin rash and itching) which, in women, recurs corresponding to one’s period and is said to be a response of the skin to a woman’s own hormone progesterone changes related to the period.

Vaginal itching can lead to poor health, embarrassment, stress and can break up a family because of infidelity suspicions, and therefore requires addressing urgently, ideally by a gynaecologist.

How can I control the negative effects of contraceptives?

My sister uses contraceptives and is healthy. However, sometimes, she becomes constipated and her feet and fingers darken. What can I do to help her? Gerald

Dear Gerald,
One’s skin can turn darker, especially in patches because of a number of conditions including pregnancy, use of contraceptives, allergic reactions to drugs (such as septrin), diseases of the thyroid gland, previous or present use of cosmetics or skin lightening substances and skin conditions, including eczema.

Your sister could have developed dark areas because of contraceptive pills although this usually happens in areas of the face that are exposed to the sun. However, it can also affect the feet and fingers if they are also exposed to the sun.

Also, it is possible that your sister may not have taken the pills properly and is now pregnant, pregnancy being blamed for darkening skin (or dark patches).

Not every woman who is pregnant or taking contraceptives gets dark patches on her skin because this seems to be genetic. Pregnancy hormones found in contraceptive pills seem to stimulate melanocytes (melanin-producing skin cells) to produce more pigment, especially in those genetically prone and in areas exposed to the sun. In some cases, the darkening may disappear after one stops taking the pills.
Please advise her to go back to her family planning clinic to switch to another method of family planning such as Depo Provera or a coil (IUCD).

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