Why is my vagina itchy?

ITCHING is normal.

You might have an itchy elbow, scalp, back, foot and sometimes you can’t seem to scratch the itch effectively.

If you’ve got an itchy vagina, it’s irritating, and could be down to several reasons.

The NHS states that people who have vaginitis may experience an itchy or sore vagina.

Vaginitis is soreness and swelling in and around the vagina, it’s common and usually treatable, and in most cases is nothing to worry about.

It can be caused by a number of things, and this includes thrush.

If you have thrush, you’ll likely also have white and lumpy discharge (like cottage cheese), itching and soreness.

Sexually transmitted illnesses like chlamydia can also cause itching and if you’ve contracted one of these then you’ll likely also experience yellow, green or smelly discharge, as well as pain when peeing or having sex.

A dry, itchy vagina and pain when having sex could be down to hormonal issues.

This could occur if you’re going through the menopause, you’re breastfeeding or you’re on certain types of contraception, the NHS states.

You might also experience itchiness if you have a skin condition like eczema.

This will often present as itchy, sore patches around your vagina and other parts of the body.

Why does my vagina smell?

While you might have the odd itch down there, you might also sometimes notice a smell.

Speaking to The Sun, Dr Bryony Henderson at Livi said the vagina always has a slight smell, and that’s because of the pH balance, which changes throughout your cycle.

The expert said the pH balance of the vagina will change throughout the cycle so this may change depending on the time of the month.

“Essentially, as long as the smell is normal for you and you are well, there is nothing to worry about.

“Sometimes, your vaginal smell may change. At this point it would be advised to see a doctor. Infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, can cause the vagina to smell. Often this is associated with discharge too,” she said.

Dr Henderson added that if you’re experiencing an ammonia-like vaginal odour, urine might be involved.

“This can happen if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI). This is more likely if a UTI is left untreated and you might be leaking. An infection that’s left untreated will also cause a fever, and the smell will be quite distinct and sickly.”

Very rarely, she said foul-smelling discharge can be symptom of cervical or uterine cancer.

“Discharge and vaginal odour are unlikely to be the only or first symptoms, though.

“You might have experienced bleeding during intercourse, or perhaps occasional spotting that becomes more regular. The smell will be a little metallic,” she said.

If you’re worried about any of your symptoms then you should see your GP.