What Causes Itching Especially On The Labia?

Posted on Tue, 6 May 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 6 May 2014 Answered on

Mon, 26 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, a couple of days ago I had intercourse with my partner after a hiatus of about three weeks. It was not as lubricated as usual, and that day I felt a bit sore afterwards. the soreness led to itching the next day, and it got increasingly worse. It is now almost a full week later and I occasionally get a prickling itching especially on the labia which feel thick, dry and inflamed. There is red scabbing on the inside of the vestibule, just at the entrance of the vagina. what can I do?? I am 100% sure it is not an std as we both just got tested and this has never happened before. I have only been sexually active for about six months.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of Yeast/ candida Infection

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your concern and i have understood it.

I think yeast infection is the underlying problem for the symptoms that you have been experiencing

The most common symptom of a yeast infection is itchiness in and around the vagina.

Other symptoms include:

-Burning, redness, and swelling of the vagina and the vulva
-Pain/burning when passing urine
-Pain during sex
-Soreness
-A thick, white vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese
-A rash on the vagina

You may only have a few of these symptoms. They may be mild or severe.

If I was the treating doctor I would have asked you to take a single stat dose of Oral Fluconazole 150mg.

You could also apply a topical antifungal cream, twice daily e.g clotrimazole cream is available OTC OR can also use a clotrimazole Vaginal Pessary once daily at night for 7 days.

regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (18 minutes later)

I hav no pain/burning when passing urine, there has been no discharge and no rash. the only symptoms I have had were itching, soreness immediately after sex and prickling pain now. I applied hydrocortisone for the itching and to stop the labia from cracking, can I get Oral Fluconazole without a prescription? and will clotrimazole work without the fluconazole, and how long will it take to go away?
the skin just inside the labia is red and rough and it hurts even just to put a cotton swab inside the vagina. please help. Doesn't a yeast infection take a while to develop? these symptoms started immediately after the dry sex.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
OTC antifungal cream would help

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

You could apply a topical antifungal cream e.g clotrimazole cream is available OTC without a prescription.

A single dose of an oral antifungal e.g fluconazole 150mg also may be used. Fluconazole is a prescription drug. You could get it prescribed from your general practitioner. However, clotrimazole cream alone would work very well.

Of course, the trauma of dry sex would have facilitated superimposed candidal infection manifested as itching on the day following the sexual encounter.

regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar