Vaginal itching around time of period?

[MistyK]

For the past 4 months, I've developed a terrible itch/redness in the vaginal area about 5 days prior to my period; it goes away 2 or 3 days after I 'start.'  

I've never had a yeast infection before, but the first month it happened I assumed that's what it was.  I treated it OTC to save a trip to the doctor.  Since then, I've just lived with it until it passed.

I have an annual exam coming up within the next month, and this problem is top of my list for discussion.  However, if anyone has any advice or personal experience with something similar, I'd really appreciate hearing about it.

P.S.  I'm married and both of us are completely monogamous - it cannot be an STD of any sort.  Haven't changed laundry detergent, body soap, lotion, perfume, or anything else I can think of in quite some time.

[HaleyAnn0121]

I am on the pill! I get this about a week before my last pill and it lasts the whole week. It is so awful and I have recently noticed it is a week before my period. I never really realized or had this but a year or so into being on the pill I know exactly when itll start and my cream doesnt do too much. :\ It ***** but I do have a doctors appt scheduled for two weeks from now and I am getting a full exam to make sure all is well.

[ErynnJ]

In the days before your period a lot is happening. The hormone progesterone really decreases since you aren't pregnant and the hormone estrogen slowly starts to rise again to get your ovaries ready for the next cycle of ovulation. Your body wants to maximize the chance of pregnancy (which is why birth control is SO important all the time) and so those wacky hormones are cycling, trying hard to make that happen. In the couple of days before your period, it's clear to your body that pregnancy isn't happening and the shift in hormones begins and sometimes the progesterone decreases a lot but the estrogen doesn't quite get up to speed. When this happens, your vagina can get somewhat dry and this is itchy! Once your period starts, the menstrual flow moistens things again and by the time your period is done the estrogen is kicking in and making you moist again so the itching is gone. -Dr. Molly

[letsbehealthy]

Ok...so i melted some coconut oil (virgin unrefined), mixed in baking soda, let it solidfy in fridge, molded it into little suppositories, put in freezer (covered in some wax paper), stuck one in my vagina (without paper). will do 2x a week for 2 weeks. so far RELIEF!!!!! i am also now starting an alkaline diet. this will help my pH stay balanced. no more sugars no more crap! i will take blah food over an itchy burning vagina for the rest of my life! we need to make life style changes. it starts now! i hope this helps. i pray we all find relief!

[needstoknow2013]

has anyone looked into candida albicans. you can have yeast overgrowth in the intestines that can actually penetrate the lining hence leaking the candida and toxins into your blood. so if it is possible to not have a traditional yeast infection in the vagina but yet have it in the intestines, hence blood, hence period then the reaction. it also cause lots of other symptons and then the treatment has its on symptons because of "die off" there is lots of questionaires online and i answered yes to most of the culprits. also, since women mention childbirth, if you got high dose antibiotics due to c-sec etc that may be the trigger. its just a theory but it affects ph so thats why most comments on here seem to be maintaining but not resolving. there is also a look to the bowel of this condition sometimes if the overgrowth is being excreted. i am addressing this issue to see if it helps cause it can affect everything in your body, bladder, liver, rectum, vagina etc yet you wont always test positive for yeast infection but i do believe there is a blood test for the candida part but i havent seen a dr yet. also, i have been treating my root chakra because i believe in a medical, natural, spiritual, chemical approach combined.

[jaymLove]

I to am so glad to have found this site. There's not a whole lot of info out there on this issue. I am 25 and started having this problem (of getting vaginal irritation) when I was 17 but it has not happened in about 4 or 5 years until now well maybe a few times in that time. :( It use to happen about two weeks before my period, it would last about 4 - 6 days, stop for a few, then I would get my period. Well I have been on methadone for the past 6 months which has caused me not to get my period for 5 months now. So I have done some research and found that the herb/vitamin called vitex (chasteberry) is a miracle in regulating almost all hormonal problems naturally for women of all ages. Well I just started taking vitex 5 days ago and the very next day I started getting irritated. I was kind of glad because it seems that the vitex is doing something to my hormones (hopefully regulating them) but the irritation has become increasingly worse! I itch, burn, and feel swollen terribly now! It was feeling like a knife going through my uterus or something when I pee but that has eased up a bit now although, I am still irritated. I know it has to be hormone related since I just started taking the herb to regulate my hormones and that's when it started. I use to get this problem a lot before my period but haven't in a few years or so. I really hope that the vitex is fixing my hormones and that's why I am having this problem so severe and also because I haven't had a period in 5 months I'm thinking maybe that's why it's so bad this time. I'm a little worried to keep taking it because the irritation is almost unbearable but I want to regulate my hormones and periods so badly. I was thinking maybe I need to keep taking it and let the irritation run its course since I'm almost certain it's hormone related. Once my hormones get back to somewhat of a normal level will the irritation stop? I'm so scared and worried :( I also found that putting 1,000 mgs or units or whatever of pure vitamin E inside your vagina will help very much with the irritation. I tried it last night and do think it has helped a bit. If anyone knows anything about vitex and if I should continue to take it to regulate my hormones/period even though since I've been taking it I have gotten so irritated? Any input would be greatly appreciated! Also, I really freaked out the other night when I found two little bumps on my labia minora (the inner vaginal lip) on one side. I got so terrified. I have never had anything like that and was so scared I had herpes or something God forbid but I immedietly got online and tried to find info on what it could be. I'm almost positive it was a bartholin cyst :/ it is caused from hormonal imbalances or changes. From my understanding it happens if you get irritated due to hormone problems and the little glands normally produce moisture to lubricate the vaginal opening. So I guess when you're really irritated and dry the glands do not produce the lubricant and the glands get blocked causing it to become a little bump. I was terrified to say the least! but now I am almost positive that's what I have. And I got it right when I started taking the herb to regulate my hormones and I'm really irritated and that's what causes bartholin cyst. It appears to be going away now so I'm somewhat relieved.. I can't see a doctor because I have no insurance at the moment :/ it's really a shame that in America so many people have health problems and can't see a doctor because of no health insurance and some people with insurance can't see a doctor because they can't afford the co pay. But just wanted to share my particular story in case someone is going through my exact situation. I see many women have the irritation problem but my irritation was set off from taking vitex and then on top of that it caused me to get two bumps :/ it was really scary and I'm sure many women and girls freak out and it helps to see someone too has that problem. But any advice on whether I should continue taking the vitex will really help! I want to so I can get regulated and I'm thinking I just need to get through the irritation until my hormone levels reach a normal level and it stops soon! Thanks to all for posting your stories! ;-)  

[nabrenda12]

Um Sooo thankful to have found this site. I looked everywhere until I found this. I felt so alone, thought it was only me. I start itching three or four days before my period, the day before its the most uncomfortable I can't even sleep I have to take two showers a day to try and calm it down. I end up waking up at 5 am. I can't go to the doctor I don't have health insurance. I never thought I'd say this but I actually look forward to getting my period. In 19, and this just started about 2 months ago.