A burning sensation in the intimate area is a common vaginal discomfort. Learn more about the causes and possible treatments.
Every woman experiences vaginal discomforts at some stage in their life. The most common symptoms include discharge, odor, itch, pain and vaginal burning. These symptoms can seriously affect the quality of life. Your love life may be particularly affected because sex can become very uncomfortable and even painful.
A burning sensation in the intimate area is usually a sign of irritation or an infection. It can be caused by:
If you suspect that burning may be related to a product you used recently, rinse the area thoroughly as soon as possible to remove the residues and minimize the effect. Afterwards, use a natural, soothing product or a vaginal gel with prebiotics to help the good bacteria recuperate and give some immediate relief. In order to prevent these kinds of issues, choose natural products that do not contain harsh chemicals, fragrances or dyes.
If other symptoms occur, such as discharge, odor, itch or pain, it is possible that you have an infection. Check with your doctor if this is the case. There are good, highly effective, non-antibiotic, non-antimycotic treatments available for bacterial vaginosis, candida and other microbial imbalances.
If you are experiencing vaginal burning due to dryness, ask your gynecologist for a suitable solution. Your options include estrogen creams, vaginal moisturizers and lubricants. The main difference between moisturizers and lubricants is that the first group of products are intended to give you more long-term relief. This is ideal if vaginal dryness is causing discomfort when you exercise or walk.. Lubricants are used prior to sexual intercourse and will give short-term relief, which can help make sex more pleasurable and painless.
When irritation and inflammation occur, allow your vagina some time to heal and avoid intercourse until the symptoms are completely gone. Resist the urge to scratch the affected area, because this will only make things worse, causing swelling and pain.
Related: How to prevent vaginal burning sensation