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.

[Missy6168]

I am 44 years old and this used to happen to me a weel before my period and dlast throughout my period. When I was 27 years old I had to have a hystorectomy and it stopped. My Gyno told me that is was a imbalance of my hormones that caused it.

Good luck

[candicek12]

I have been having vulvar pain for 8 yrs now. The first time I noticed it was with the first period I had while on Seasonale. The burning comes when blood comes in contact with the skin. It's like I am literally allergic to my own blood. I read your post about Seasonique and am wondering if there is some relation to the BCPs. I am going crazy dealing with this. I have seen many Drs. I have been treated for yeast, BV, etc and nothing works. If i get some sort of relief it's usually back the next month. I just gave birth to my daughter about 3 weeks ago and during pregnancy my midwife is first medical professional to seem to listen to me, and first that had ever gotten it under control for long period of time. It had been gone for about 5 mths. Now all the sudden it is back with my post partum bleeding. Same thing, irritation where blood comes in contact with my skin. Went and saw the midwife again and she even said "it's almost like you are allergic to your own blood." They are sending me to a vulvodynia specialist, but i cant get in for 2 more months. Someone, anyone, same thing happening to you??

[Daisy2525]

I'm taking the generic form of seasonique (the pill that lasts for three months before I get my period). About 1-2 weeks prior to my period, I start experiencing the irritation (swelling, dryness, small cuts).  The first time it happened, my doctor thought it was an allergic reaction and prescribed an ointment.  The ointment didn't seem to help but the irritation did eventually go away after I had my period.  

The exact same pattern has now happened multiple times so I started thinking that maybe it had something to do with the hormone levels of the pills. I originally thought that the irritation would go away when I started a new pack of pills. I did some research and found out that ALL of the seasonique pills have the exact same amount of hormone besides the final seven placebo pills.  Since the problem isn't going away bc I start a new pack of pills, I believe the problem is going away because I had my period.  

Girls, I think the key to solving this problem or reducing the amount of time you experience this irritation... is to force having your period. I asked my doctor if it would be ok to start taking the placebo pills as soon as I experience the irritation.  She said to be careful with this because if you mess with the pills incorrectly, you can get PREGNANT.  For me, she said that as long as I have taken at least 21 consecutive hormone pills, It should be ok for me to move onto the placebo pills. I'm trying this now, and it seems to be working.  So it may be worth asking your doctor about.

[3061713]

I have started itching in my vaginal area 2 days before my period starts and I am really confused because I'm only 12 and I don't know what is going on with me I just need answers.

[3061713]

I have started itching in my vaginal area 2 days before my period starts and I am really confused because I'm only 12 and I don't know what is going on with me I just need answers.

[SakkaOnna]

I really don't know what it could be, but since it sounds pretty definitely hormone-related (always starts a couple of days before your period, always stops a couple days in), you might try eating 2 tablespoons of ground flax seed for a month (on yogurt, in smoothies, whatever). ...I know it sounds a bit lame, but I had a mildly irregular cycle and wicked-bad PMS for the entire week before and all the way through my period for more than a year, and a naturopath told me to do the flax seed thing. My first period after I started the seeds was five days early (with absolutely zero PMS; I guess it didn't have time to get started), and the next one was exactly 28 days later, with minimal PMS. Same thing the next month: regular cycle, vastly improved symptoms. So it does seem to work on some level, and it's worth a try.

Specifics: whatever's helpful in flax seeds is pretty volatile and doesn't last long after they're ground, so buy them whole (bulk food section of any large grocery store should have them for about $2/lb). Store in a container in the refrigerator. Grind 2 tablespoons in a coffee grinder or food processor just before you want them, then put them in yogurt or a smoothie or juice and eat/drink them. They don't taste amazing, but they're not terrible either. Try it for a month to see if it makes any difference. Hope this helps!