Intimate burning and itching

It may depend only on a trivial irritation and disappear soon, but it is always better to investigate an intimate male or female itching that arises during or after sexual intercourse, especially if it is frequent or persists.

An intimate itching and burning sensation that appears in conjunction with or after sexual intercourse are signs that should not be underestimated, in men as in women.

Especially if you have unprotected sex, discomfort could be the alarm bell of a sexually transmitted disease or infection of other origin, caused by fungi, bacteria, protozoa or viruses. For this reason it is always advisable to contact your doctor or a specialist (gynecologist for women, urologist or andrologist for men).

Even if you use a condom, an intimate itch is always a warning that something is wrong. Here are the main causes and some remedies that we can adopt.

Burning and intimate itching, when the cause is allergy

One occurrence that should be taken into account when erythema, bright red dots or small itchy bumps appear on the skin of the male genitalia (penis, glans, scrotum) or female genitalia (vulvar area) or redness on the vaginal mucosa is a local allergic reaction.

To trigger it can be latex, with which most condoms are made, but also additives of various types (perfumes, lubricants, etc.) or products such as spermicides and the like. Sometimes, even products for hair removal of the genital area can cause hypersensitivity or allergies.

It can also happen that the woman is sensitized to sperm, a rare situation that can vary from one partner to another depending on the particular proteins contained in the seminal fluid of each.

In the first case the solution is to use latex-free condoms, while in the second it is precisely to use condoms to protect yourself from allergenic proteins.

To understand what are the causes of itching and other manifestations of allergy it is necessary to pay attention to the devices and products that are applied locally in the genital area before, during or after sexual intercourse, to try to identify a correlation. Therefore, you should try to avoid the “suspicious” ones, eliminating them one at a time to check if the symptoms disappear or if they occur anyway.

If you realize that a specific material or product is creating problems, it would be useful to consult your doctor or a specialist for any allergy investigations (Patch skin tests and, possibly, Rast blood tests), necessary to specify the nature of the allergies present and identify appropriate solutions. For example, in case of allergy to latex, contact with objects that contain it even beyond sexual life (gloves, cannulas for medical procedures, etc.) should be avoided.

Intimate burning: if the cause is not infections

In women, sexual intercourse in the presence of poor or absent vaginal lubrication can cause micro abrasions that cause itching and intimate burning or that worsen these symptoms, if already present.

Poor intimate secretions can result from any factor that modifies the normal balance of the bacterial flora responsible for protecting and maintaining its natural vaginal moisture and lubrication.

In these cases, the main defendants are unsuitable intimate hygiene (for example, due to the use of aggressive intimate cleansers or not suitable for the intimate area, vaginal douches or too frequent washing), the use of briefs and other synthetic underwear (instead of cotton or other breathable fabrics) and too tight clothing that does not favor the ventilation of the skin of the external genital organs. Habits that are therefore to be changed.

Even low levels of estrogen hormones, such as found in menopausal women, can negatively interfere with the physiology of the mucous membranes and cause vaginal dryness, making coitus particularly irritating or even painful.

Intimate burning caused by infections

Male or female intimate itching may indicate the presence of an infection. In women, if the symptom is accompanied by unusual vaginal discharge, characterized by unpleasant odor and an unusual color, it is good to consult the gynecologist for the correct diagnosis and identify the appropriate therapy.

It can be a sexually transmitted infection such as trichomoniasis, caused by a small parasite (to be precise, the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis), or gonorrhea or chlamydia, both diseases of bacterial origin (due, respectively, to the proliferation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis); or, again, of a genital herpes, due to a virus that causes characteristic lesions formed by grouped bubbles, in relief, which multiply rapidly (similar to those of herpes of the lips).

A special case is represented by the infection of the genitals by the fungus Candida albicans (candidiasis), which is easily recognizable by those who have already been affected at least once. Characteristic signs of candidiasis are intense redness, pain and swelling of the vaginal mucous membranes and, sometimes, the skin of the groin area, which are covered with a lumpy and whitish patina, similar to cottage cheese. In addition, candidiasis can be associated with vulvodynia, a sensation of persistent intense chronic pain and burning in the vulva.

Candida vaginitis can arise due to a lowering of the immune system and an imbalance of the vaginal bacterial flora (for example, induced by oral antibiotic therapy, another illness or stress). In addition, taking birth control pills, a diet based on foods rich in simple sugars or diseases such as diabetes can promote recurrent episodes of candidiasis.

Se è questa che causa prurito e bruciore durante o dopo i rapporti, per contrastare la proliferazione fungina e ottenere sollievo dai sintomi si possono usare in autonomia creme o altri preparati antimicotici (per esempio, capsule od ovuli vaginali), acquistabili in farmacia senza ricetta. Se si tratta del primo episodio, tuttavia, è comunque preferibile rivolgersi al medico prima di ricorrere a qualsiasi trattamento (compresi i rimedi naturali), per essere certi che si tratti proprio di candidosi e di curarla in modo adeguato.

Anche il partner potrebbe presentare eruzioni cutanee pruriginose sui genitali, ma spesso negli uomini la proliferazione della Candida albicans resta del tutto asintomatica. Per risolvere definitivamente il problema è consigliabile che anche il partner effettui il trattamento con una crema anti-fungina per uso esterno.

If this preventive caution is not adopted, there is a significant risk for the woman of relapse into the infection after the recovery of the first episode of candidiasis, resulting in prolonged discomfort and treatment times for both partners, as well as the need to abstain from intimate relationships, with a negative impact on sexuality.

Finally, if the itching and burning are particularly intense during urination and are accompanied by the frequent need to urinate and, in some cases, the presence of blood in the urine, then the cause may be a urinary tract infection, which can provoke inflammation of the bladder (cystitis).

The case of bacterial vaginosis

Another frequent intimate disorder in women is bacterial vaginosis, determined by the excessive proliferation of some germs normally present in small quantities in the healthy vaginal flora, consisting mainly of lactobacilli.

The onset of this condition is favored by all the circumstances that can alter the defenses of the mucosa or increase the vaginal pH (making it less acidic, ie pH > 4.5), such as the use of an aggressive intimate cleanser, systemic antibiotic therapies, stress, as well as the use of local antibiotic preparations necessary to combat vaginosis itself or other genital infections.

The presence of bacterial vaginosis is recognized above all by the intense smell of spoiled fish of vaginal secretions (which can be more intense after sexual intercourse or during the menstrual cycle), which take on a grayish-white color and can become more abundant than normal. On the other hand, typical symptoms of a local inflammation, such as burning and itching, are usually absent.

To confirm the presence of bacterial vaginosis, rapid tests can be carried out for self-diagnosis (with vaginal swab), which can be purchased in pharmacies without a prescription and very simple to use, while for treatments it is necessary to contact the doctor or gynecologist, who will prescribe the necessary care, evaluating the presence of any contraindications. It is useful in these cases, the local application of gels for example based on lactic acid and glycogen, to bring vaginal acidity back to normal values (pH 3.5-4.0), promote the reformation of healthy vaginal flora and for the prevention of new episodes

In addition to eliminating intimate discomfort, recognizing and treating bacterial vaginosis is important because its presence increases the chances of contracting another sexually transmitted disease and, in pregnant women, increases the risk of preterm birth, gestational complications and low birth weight of the baby.

The following table summarizes the symptoms of major vaginal infections.

Remedies to always be adopted

To avoid or counteract discomfort during sexual intercourse, it is always good to follow the advice of the gynecologist, such as avoiding the use of a too aggressive detergent that already irritates the intimate parts, facilitating the onset of redness, flaking and intimate itching, up to induce real dermatitis in the most sensitive or predisposed people.

Especially in case of itching and discomfort we tend to wash the intimate parts more often: even more so specific delicate products must be used, preferably with prolonged soothing action, such as those that contain glycine.

In any case, care must be taken to maintain the correct balance of the vaginal bacterial flora. If you often suffer from disorders and intimate burning of different nature, especially in the case of recurrent candidiasis, it is good to protect the vaginal ecosystem by rebalancing it with probiotic lactic acid bacteria (selected strains of lactobacilli), now also available for local administration, in the form of vaginal capsules.

Compared to similar probiotic products against Candida albicans infection to be taken by mouth, the formulations in vaginal capsules have the advantage of “administering” lactic acid bacteria directly at the point where they must act and in higher quantities, without interference related to intestinal absorption.

In addition, in order not to incur recurring episodes of candida, it is good to follow a diet low in sugar, change tampons often and wear breathable underwear.