Burning in the intimate area in women is mainly found in lesions of the vagina (thrush, nonspecific vaginitis, sexually transmitted infections). The cause of discomfort can be a herpes infection, genital allergies, HPV infection, and pathology of the urinary system. To diagnose the etiological factors of burning, a gynecological examination, microscopic and bacteriological analysis of the vaginal secretion, instrumental methods (colposcopy, ultrasound, biopsy) are prescribed. To relieve symptoms, vaginal suppositories, baths, systemic etiotropic drugs are used.
A burning sensation in the intimate area, as a rule, worries women in menopause. Hormonal changes lead to a violation of the secretory activity of the glands, so the vaginal mucosa dries up, which causes discomfort. Burning sensations and aching pain in the perineum occur after rough or too long intercourse, with insufficient production of natural lubrication and the absence of intimate lubricants.
Short-term episodes of burning in the perineum occur after using too aggressive means for intimate hygiene, which cause irritation of delicate skin and mucous membranes. The symptom is observed in the case of the use of ordinary soap, not intended for sensitive areas. A woman feels a burning sensation immediately after washing, unpleasant symptoms persist for 1-2 hours and are supplemented by dryness in the intimate area.
Vaginal candidiasis is the most common cause of burning in the vagina and perineum. Discomfort sensations appear suddenly, disturb women constantly, periodically intensifying or disappearing. Intense burning pain is noted during urination, at the time of sexual intimacy. The symptom is accompanied by excruciating itching in the vulva area. For thrush, abundant curdled discharge with a sour smell, hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membranes are pathognomonic.
The symptomatology of thrush increases after water procedures, physical activity. Manifestations often worsen a few days before the onset of menstruation. Sometimes chronic vaginal candidiasis develops, which is characterized by moderate discomfort in the intimate area and scanty thick discharge. With a long course of the fungal process, atrophy of the mucosa is observed, as a result of which the patient feels constant burning and dryness.
Burning in the intimate area in women
Inflammation of the vagina is manifested by burning, itching and soreness in the intimate area in women. Symptoms are aggravated during urination, during hygiene procedures. Unpleasant sensations are supplemented by vaginal discharge of a different nature: with gonorrhea - thick yellow-green, with trichomoniasis - frothy, greenish and fetid, with chlamydia - mucopurulent. For nonspecific vaginitis, profuse yellowish leucorrhoea with an unpleasant odor is typical.
Due to the proximity, the urinary tract is usually involved in the process, so the patient feels an intense burning sensation in the entire intimate area, especially in the urethra and vulva. Sometimes burning pains at the end of urination are possible. Women with vaginitis have dull pulling sensations in the pubic area, lower abdomen, which are aggravated by physical activity, sharp turns and tilts of the torso. Sexual intercourse becomes sharply painful (dyspareunia).
When infected with a herpes virus, a woman feels itching and burning in the genital area even before other signs of infection join. Symptoms are sometimes associated with paresthesias, thick leucorrhoea, and urinary discomfort. After 1-2 days, vesicles with transparent contents form on the mucous membrane of the genitals, quickly turning into erosion, and as a result, the burning sensation increases sharply.
With inflammation of the gland located in the thickness of the labia majora, there is pain with burning on the side of the lesion. Discomfort becomes stronger when wearing tight underwear that rubs the skin, intimacy. The affected area becomes hyperemic, the tissues swell and block the entrance to the vagina. When bartholinitis is complicated by an abscess of the gland, women are worried about severe pain and inconvenience when walking, fever and general weakness increase.
Excruciating burning sensation with itching in the intimate area are common symptoms of an allergic reaction in women. Burning sensations are preceded by redness and swelling of the genital mucosa. Constant itching provokes scratching of the affected area, as a result, burning and soreness increase. Sometimes allergic manifestations in the intimate area act as a component of a wider symptom complex (with urticaria, eczema, dermatitis).
With urethritis and cystitis, women often experience a burning sensation in the perineum. Discomfort reaches its maximum intensity during urination, often accompanied by painful pains in the lower abdomen. Burning sensations are accompanied by a change in the type of urine: it becomes cloudy, acquires a fetid odor, sometimes you can see streaks of blood. The mucous membranes of the perineum are hyperemic and edematous, when touched, there is a strong burning sensation.
Condylomas in women cause a burning sensation in the perineal area with accidental touches, rubbing underwear, sexual intercourse and the penetration of foreign objects into the vagina. With constant trauma, erosion and bleeding occur, as a result of which burning soreness intensifies. Condylomas are more often located on the labia minora and on the eve of the vagina, so a woman can detect them on her own.
Examination of women complaining of a burning sensation in the intimate area begins with a standard gynecological examination. The doctor assesses the condition of the external genitalia, performs a vaginal examination in the mirrors, bimanual palpation. To understand the causes of the pathological condition, the information obtained during a physical examination is usually not enough, therefore, instrumental and laboratory methods are used:
Colposcopy
To reduce burning sensation, a woman needs to carefully monitor the hygiene of the genital organs, use special products for intimate areas. It is best to choose natural underwear that does not cause excessive sweating and does not squeeze the skin. With vaginitis, you should regularly change sanitary pads, which will absorb secretions and reduce maceration of the skin around the vulva.
Burning in the intimate area is often caused by the multiplication of pathogenic microbes. To destroy them, you can irrigate the external genitalia in women with a weak solution of chlorhexidine, a decoction of chamomile. Douching the vagina without the appointment of a gynecologist is not recommended. It is impossible to effectively eliminate burning sensation in the perineum without etiotropic treatment, so a woman should consult a doctor.
In uncomplicated forms of diseases in women, topical treatment is often sufficient. Therapeutic measures include the appointment of suppositories with antibacterial or antifungal action, which depends on the etiology of the pathogen. To eliminate discomfort, local baths with disinfectant solutions are shown. Ointments with topical corticosteroids help to stop severe burning and itching.
With specific acute vaginitis, therapy is selected based on the sensitivity of the pathogen: gonorrheal infection is treated with penicillins, tetracyclines, chlamydial and mycoplasmal infections with macrolides, fluoroquinolones, trichomonas infection with nitroimidazoles. In chronic candidal vaginitis, systemic antimycotics are effective. For the treatment of herpes in women, drugs of the acyclovir group are used.
Gynecological diseases are accompanied by vaginal dysbiosis, which increases burning sensation and discomfort, so pathogenetic treatment is aimed at normalizing the microflora. Effective vaginal suppositories with lactobacilli, as well as oral combined probiotics. In chronic diseases, immunomodulators are recommended.
Excision of genital warts is carried out according to medical and cosmetic indications. To minimize damage to the mucosa in women, a laser or radio wave removal method is practiced. With the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment of precancerous conditions in modern gynecology, minimally invasive interventions are used: removal of pathological foci with a laser, radioknife or cryodestruction. With an extensive process, extirpation of the vulva is recommended.