Common Causes Key to the prevention of recurrent vaginal itchiness is the identification of the underlying cause. There is no point in treating a yeast infection, for example, if the cause is allergic or viral. The American Academy of Family Physicians outlines some of the more common causes of vaginal pruritus (itchiness). The include:
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), caused by the overgrowth of vaginal bacteria and manifesting with itchiness, burning, swelling, discharge, and a fishy-smelling odor Vaginal candidiasis, also known as a yeast infection, which affects three out of every four women at some point in their lives Sexually transmitted disease (STDs), including chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, and mycoplasma genitalium Atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema that causes itching, redness, burning, and pain, mainly of the vulva Contact dermatitis, an allergic form of eczema caused by an array of possible irritants, including soaps, antiseptics, lubricants, spermicides, tampons, sanitary pads, preservatives, dyes, perfumes, and synthetic underwear Lichen planus, an inflammatory skin condition marked by an itchy, bumpy rash, occasionally affecting the vagina or vulva Lichen sclerosus, a cousin of lichen planus which primarily affects the vulva of postmenopausal women, causing pain, itching, and thin white skin patches Menopause, characterized by a precipitous drop in estrogen and the drying and thinning of the vaginal walls Pregnancy, which can cause atopic eruptions in 50 percent of women, most often during the later weeks of pregnancy or the weeks immediately following delivery...