What Causes Itching of the External Genitalia During Menstruation?
During menstruation, some women experience vulvar pruritus (itching). The causes may be multifactorial. For instance, contamination by menstrual blood can leave the vulva in a warm, moist environment. If sanitary pads are not changed promptly or proper cleansing is not performed, vulvar itching may develop. Additionally, using expired sanitary pads may also trigger vulvar pruritus.
Some women suffer from underlying vaginal inflammation; inflammatory secretions may be expelled along with menstrual blood, thereby increasing susceptibility to vulvar pruritus. Moreover, during menstruation, the number of beneficial vaginal flora—such as Lactobacillus—typically declines, predisposing women to bacterial dysbiosis and subsequent inflammation, which may manifest as vulvar pruritus and increased vaginal discharge.
During menstruation, decreased systemic immunity may lead to recurrence of previously treated infections—for example, bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, or trichomonas vaginitis. Consequently, affected women may experience recurrent vulvar pruritus either during or immediately after their menstrual period. While undergoing treatment for such infections, sexual intercourse should be avoided to prevent cross-infection.
Certain conditions—particularly trichomonas vaginitis—may result from mutual transmission during sexual intercourse; therefore, concurrent treatment of sexual partners is strongly recommended. For women with compromised physical constitution, we advise appropriate nutritional supplementation, regular physical activity, and consistent sleep patterns to enhance overall health and reduce the risk of recurrence.