Pants on Fire: What’s Up with Vaginal Burning?

Some of the products you use on the daily might be working against you with chemicals that can irritate your vag. This can cause burning, itching, stinging, rawness, or even pain.

You may notice symptoms right away after switching to a new product, or it may take a few uses.

Products that can cause irritation include:

• scented soaps
• detergents
• bubble baths
• menstrual pads
• scented toilet papers

What to do about it? The best way to remedy this is to stop using the products and avoid using other scented or perfumed products on your nether region.

If symptoms continue after you’ve stopped using these products, talk to your doctor to discover if something else is going on downtown.

Some products or substances that are made to be in or around your vagina can irritate your genitals and fuel that fiery feeling. This includes:

• tampons
• latex condoms
• sprays
• creams
• douches
• certain topical medications
• semen
• spermicides

What to do about it? If you have a product that you’ve just started using, stop using it to see if the burning goes away. Not sure which product that is? Try patch testing a small area to help identify the irritant.

If you discover that the culprit is your preferred method of contraception, like latex condoms, talk to your doctor. They can help you find an alternative that won’t impede on your sexy time fun.

Certain clothing can also cause burning and irritation down below, such as:

• tight underwear
• tights
• tight or fitted pants/shorts

The culprit is most likely chafing or extra moisture irritating your bits. While you may not notice any unpleasant sensations the first time you wear something new, symptoms may start to sneak up on you as you wear an item more.

What to do about it? Avoid irritation by not wearing tight clothing too often or for too long of periods of time. Be careful with wet clothing, too. Sitting too long in a wet swimsuit can lead to bacteria growth in your vagina and infections.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) happens when there’s too much of certain bacteria in your vagina, throwing off your hoo-ha’s normal balance. And a not-so-fun fact: It’s the most common vaginal infection for women ages 15 to 44, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In some cases, you may not experience any symptoms of BV. For those that do, however, symptoms can include:

• burning
• itching
• pain
• white or gray vaginal discharge
• a fish-like odor, especially after sex

What to do about it? BV may disappear on its own, but you’ll usually need to see your doctor for antibiotics to clear the infection up. It’s essential that you take every dose prescribed, even if you start feeling better.

Yeast infections have nothing to do with quarantine bread-making, and everything to do with what happens when there’s excessive yeast growth in the vagina. Along with burning, signs of a yeast infection may be:

• soreness
• red rash outside your vagina
• itching or swelling of the vagina or the vulva
• pain when you pee or during sex
• thick, white discharge (think cottage cheese)

Nearly 75 percent of women experiencing at least one yeast infection in their lifetime. And, while the risk of getting a yeast infection is already high, it’s even higher for women who:

• are pregnant
• have diabetes
• are now or were recently on antibiotics
• are using hormonal birth control
• have a compromised immune system

What to do about it? Yeast infections can often be treated at home or with an over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal medication such as a cream, ointment, or suppository.

However, if you experience frequent yeast infections, your infection doesn’t clear up after treatment, or this is your first yeast infection ever, it’s best to see your doctor. They can confirm your diagnosis and help you determine the best treatment plan for you.

Urinary tract infections (aka UTIs) happen when bacteria gets in your urinary tract or bladder. You’ll likely experience a burning sensation when you pee, as well as other symptoms like:

• a frequent need to pee (often with little results)
• strong-smelling urine
• cloudy urine
• blood in your urine, making it red or pink
• fever or chills
• pain in the stomach, back, or pelvic area

What to do about it? Think you have a UTI? See your doctor. They’ll be able to prescribe you antibiotics to treat your infection.

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and to take the full course of medication, even if symptoms have disappeared. If you don’t, you risk the infection returning.

Trichomoniasis (aka trich) is an STI, and one of the most common ones in the U.S. to boot. It appears more often in women than men. Symptoms only appear in about 30 percent of cases, so most women don’t even realize they have the infection.

Those that that do experience symptoms will likely have:

• vaginal burning, irritation, and/or itching
• clear, white, yellow, or green discharge
• lower abdominal pain
• foul odors down below
• discomfort while peeing or during sex

What to do about it? You’ll need to see your doctor, as prescription antibiotics are needed to clear up the infection. Typically, only a single dose will do the trick to treat your trich. Left untreated, however, trich can cause long-term complications, as well as increase your risk of getting other STIs.

Gonorrhea is another STI where bacteria infects mucous membranes like the cervix, uterus, or fallopian tubes. It’s most common in those ages 15 to 24 and rarely causes symptoms.

When symptoms do appear, they include:

• vaginal burning or irritation
• unusual discharge
• bleeding or spotting between periods
• burning or pain when urinating

What to do about it? Gonorrhea is treated with prescription antibiotics, so a trip to the doc is necessary. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe dual therapy, where two different meds will need to be taken at the same time.

Gonorrhea can lead to serious complications if it’s left untreated, including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Chlamydia is another common STI caused by bacteria. It’s often known as a “silent” infection because, much like trich, about 70 percent of those with the infection don’t experience symptoms.

Those that do exhibit symptoms will likely experience:

• burning sensations
• abnormal discharge
• bleeding between periods or during sex
• pain during urination or sex

What to do about it? Prescription antibiotics are needed to cure chlamydia, so a trip to the doctor is necessary. Health professionals are also required to report chlamydia cases in order to track the infection.

If left untreated, chlamydia can wreak havoc on your reproductive system, and cause permanent damage. Repeat infection is also common with chlamydia, and each time you contract the infection can increase your chances of having issues with fertility.

Genital herpes is an incurable viral infection that’s caused by skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the herpes simplex virus (HSV). According to the CDC, an estimated 1 in 6 people in the U.S. between ages 14 to 49 has genital herpes.

Symptoms may not develop right away — in fact, it could be years before the virus becomes active and symptoms appear. When symptoms do appear, they’ll likely include:

• burning, itching, or tingling sensation in the vagina
• painful sores, blisters, or ulcers
• swollen glands
• vaginal pain, especially during urination
• flu-like symptoms
• abnormal vaginal discharge

What to do about it? The herpes virus stays in your body forever; there is no cure. However, your doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to ease symptoms, reduce your risk of outbreak, and shorten the length of any flare-ups.

Your doctor about can also prescribe medication to help reduce the risk of transferring genital herpes to others.

The most common STI in the U.S. is human papillomavirus, more commonly known as HPV. HPV can cause genital warts, which can appear:

• on your vulva, vagina, cervix, or anus
• in clusters or as one or two bumps
• as white or flesh-colored bumps

What to do about it? While genital warts may disappear on their own, there’s no cure for them. You can choose to have them medically removed, which can lower your risk of transmitting the infection to others. HPV is also linked to different cancers, including anal cancer and cervical cancer.

A rare skin condition, lichen sclerosus causes thin, white patches to appear on the vagina — especially around the vulva. These patches can lead to permanent scarring.

Other symptoms include:

• itching or burning
• pain or discomfort
• redness
• bleeding
• blisters or sores
• painful sex

Women can develop lichen sclerosis at any age, but it’s most common in postmenopausal women.

What to do about it? To treat lichen sclerosus, you’ll need to see your doctor, who can prescribe a strong topical steroid to ease symptoms. You’ll also want to regularly see your doctor to monitor any changes in the skin or permanent complications, like scarring, or thinning of the skin.

Wait, aren’t you a little young to be worried about menopause? Premature menopause is when you go through menopause before age 40. It isn’t very common and only affects about 1 percent of women (and a lot of times it’s genetic).

During menopause your estrogen and progesterone levels get super low, and you’ll stop having a menstrual cycle. This can lead to vaginal dryness and burning. Plus, the burning is often worse during sex (bring out the extra lube!).

Menopause can also cause symptoms like:

• hot flashes
• irritability
• insomnia
• fatigue
• reduced sex drive
• night sweats

What to do about it? Menopause can’t be stopped, but it’s symptoms can be eased. One thing your doc may do is prescribe an estrogen supplement or other hormone therapy. If hormonal supplements aren’t your cup of tea, your doctor can work with you to find the best option for you.

If sex conjures up images of burning naughty bits rather than burning passion, you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon to experience a burning sensation after and during sex.

This can generally be attributed to:

• too much friction
• not enough lubricant being used
• allergic reaction to semen
• allergic reaction to products being used (like latex condoms, toys, or scented lotions)
• PH imbalance caused by douching
• hormonal birth controls
• UTIs, STIs, or other infections

Vaginal irritation is normal during pregnancy, and you’ll likely experience it more than once. This can be caused by a variety of reasons, including:

• increase in vaginal discharge
• vaginal dryness
• sensitivity to products
• hormonal changes
• UTIs or other bacterial infections

Occasional itching or irritation on your vagina is normal, and there generally isn’t cause for concern. However, if you begin to experience persistent burning, increased irritation, or other symptoms that are out of the norm, there may be an underlying condition at play.

Talk to your doctor if you think something’s up (or even if you don’t… better safe than sorry!). In some cases, a simple prescription medication will make your condition disappear while others will require lifelong treatment or monitoring.

Your doctor can help identify what’s setting your bits to be on fire and help you find relief.