During pregnancy, the expectant mother suddenly discovered an increase in vaginal discharge and itching in the external genitalia. When external genital itching occurs, expectant mothers not only have to endure this itching, but also have to endure the troubles caused by external genital itching. So, why does vaginal itching occur during pregnancy? Will itching of the external genitalia during pregnancy affect the fetus?
Causes of external genital itching during pregnancy
The causes of external genital itching during pregnancy are mostly related to endocrine disorders and vaginal infections in expectant mothers. During pregnancy, due to the high levels of estrogen in the expectant mother's body and pelvic congestion throughout the pregnancy, there is a significant increase in cervical and vaginal secretions. If personal hygiene and rest are not taken care of, it is easy to cause an increase in vaginal discharge, secretion from sweat and sebaceous glands in the genital area, leading to itching in the external genitalia.
However, vaginal fungal infection is also one of the common causes of vulvar itching during pregnancy. The increase in estrogen levels during pregnancy in expectant mothers leads to an increase in glycogen content in vaginal epithelial cells, resulting in an increase in lactate produced by the breakdown of glycogen by vaginal bacteria and an increase in vaginal acidity. This accelerates the proliferation of fungi, leading to fungal vaginitis, increased vaginal discharge, vulvar itching, and other conditions.
Usually, when itching occurs in the external genitalia, it is particularly noticeable at night, and in severe cases, it may lead to redness and swelling of the external genitalia. If itching persists for a long time, it may cause damage to the external genitalia.
What to do if there is itching in the external genitalia during pregnancy
So, how can we improve the symptoms of external genital itching? Firstly, expectant mothers should know how to distinguish the causes of genital itching. If it is caused by personal hygiene, they should change their underwear frequently and keep their genital area clean. But if the itching of the external genitalia is caused by infection, it is recommended that expectant mothers go to the hospital for examination to avoid other complications.
In addition, in daily life, expectant mothers should not eat spicy food and should focus on light food to avoid exacerbating external itching. During pregnancy, it is also important to avoid mental stress and irritability, and control emotional changes.
