Itching "down there" (TMI)

[Anonymous]

I'm 16 weeks pregnant and have had some annoying itching "down there". Just on the outside in the hair area and there is no smell so I don't think it could be a yeast infection (or could it?). Nothing has changed in terms of detergents, soap, always have worn cotton undies (in fact, I now change them 3x a day), and I'm not on antibiotics. The itching is mostly noticable in the the morning and at night.

My next thought is crabs, but I am dumbfounded how that could be considering DH and I have been monogamous since we dated/married 15 years ago (high school sweet hearts).

My second thought is maybe it's just dry. Could that be it?

Is all this an idiosyncracy of pregnancy that nobody ever talks about?

Should I be worried about the baby if this is just on the outside? Wouldn't the mucous plug prevent any harm on the off chance of something awry internally?

I don't have my next appt. with the doc. for another 3 weeks.

TIA

[Anonymous]

You could have jock itch. Do you go to a gym? I had a mild version that I think I somehow got from my swimming pool and used a cream to clear it right up. Same area you describe.

[Anonymous]

Yeast infection does not necessarily come with smell, actually most of the time yeast infection does NOT come with any smell (take it from me, I have yeast infections all the time and there is never any smell associated with it, it's just itchy). Since yeast infections are very common during pregnancy (and by the way harmless), I think it's likely that you have a yeast infection. You can buy over the counter cream (I recommend Monistat) for yeast infection and see if the itching goes away. If it is a yeast infection, the itching will go away with the cream.

[Anonymous]

I had the same experience when I was around 13-16 weeks - just more itching than normal but nothing else wrong. I think it could just be another awesome pregnancy symptom. I am 27 weeks now and have not had any itching for a while, so if you don't think it is a yeast infection or anything else serious, it may just go away.

[Anonymous]

i had horrible itching and red bumps for the longest time, but no smell or discharge that would indicate a yeast infection. my doctor basically diagnosed "diaper rash" and told me to put desitin on it. didn't help. when i finally displayed true symptoms of a yeast infection, monistat cleared it right up. turns out i had had a yeast infection for well over a month! with no classic symptoms except for the itching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeast infection does not necessarily come with smell, actually most of the time yeast infection does NOT come with any smell (take it from me, I have yeast infections all the time and there is never any smell associated with it, it's just itchy). Since yeast infections are very common during pregnancy (and by the way harmless), I think it's likely that you have a yeast infection. You can buy over the counter cream (I recommend Monistat) for yeast infection and see if the itching goes away. If it is a yeast infection, the itching will go away with the cream.

ITTA with this.

The hormonal changes of pregnancy make us very vulnerable to vaginal infections. Also increased discharge is normal - and a change in your scent. So don't be surprised if you experience those things as well.

[Anonymous]

So you may have a yeast infection even if the only symptom is labial (not vaginal) itching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you may have a yeast infection even if the only symptom is labial (not vaginal) itching?

Yes, absolutely. That's what a yeast infection feels like.

[Anonymous]

Perineal itching, too? (I know, I've got to find myself a doctor. It's been years.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perineal itching, too? (I know, I've got to find myself a doctor. It's been years.)

Yes. What you describe sound like a yeast infection. If you want to be sure, you might want to use the Vagisil at-home screening test: it's a test you do at home that will tell you if it's a yeast infection or something else.
Here is the website of the vagisil screening kit: http://www.vagisilkit.com/kit2/index.shtml

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

I agree that it could be yeast...BUT...I would definitely ask your doctor to take a look because it could be Bacterial Vaginosis related (or unrelated) to Group B Strep. I had itching down there and assumed it was just a yeast infection. I treated it myself externally with a monistat cream and the discomfort went away in about a week. I was surprised, since normally yeast infections require inserting the cream internally, and this went away without having to do that.

Then, two weeks later at my next doc appointment I tested positive for Group B Strep. Doc thinks it could be related to the BV / itching.

Just something to keep in mind....you could try one of those at-home kits, but i would ask for a test at your next scheduled appointment. Now I am freaking out about being GBS positive, needing antibiotics at labor, risks to the baby etc.