Introduction
Burning of the vagina can occur for various reasons and can differ in quality. It is therefore not an independent clinical picture, but rather a symptom of a number of possible diseases. The burning sensation is not always equally strong and can be accompanied by other symptoms. Different parts of the vagina or even the entire vagina can be affected.
Causes
The causes for a burning sensation in the vagina are very diverse. Often vaginal infections are the cause of a burning sensation. By far the most common are fungal infections of the vagina.
The probability of experiencing a fungal infection at least once in a lifetime is very high. Although the unpleasant infection is not dangerous, it does lead to symptoms such as itching, burning of the vagina or greasy vaginal discharge. Click here for treatment of a vaginal fungal infection.
A bacterial infection of the vagina, a so-called bacterial vaginosis, can also lead to a burning sensation in the vagina. However, the burning sensation is not a necessary part of a bacterial infection. It occurs more frequently during intercourse.
This is also known as dyspareunia. Trichomonads transmitted through sexual intercourse also lead to a strong vaginal burning sensation. These pathogens cause no symptoms in 80% of cases.
However, possible symptoms include itching, a strong vaginal burning sensation and a typical, unpleasant smelling, greenish discharge. Apart from infectious diseases, other causes are also possible triggers for vaginal burning. A so-called endometriosis can cause burning pain in the vagina.
This is the presence of endometrium in the vagina. A burning sensation in the vagina can also be an expression of a mental illness, such as depression or an anxiety disorder. In this case, it usually manifests itself during intercourse. You can find more information here: Burning during or after sexual intercourse
Symptoms
Different diseases can cause a burning sensation in the vagina. Depending on the underlying disease, there are therefore also different accompanying symptoms. A possible accompanying symptom of burning in the vagina is burning when urinating.
This combination of symptoms is typical of a bacterial infection of the vagina, also known as bacterial vaginosis. Itching, pain during sexual intercourse and a fishy odor of the vagina also occur. The fishy smell is caused by the fact that various proteins are decomposed by bacteria.
A thin or foamy, grey-white to yellowish discharge from the vagina is also typical. Inflammation of the vulva and the vaginal entrance, which is often associated with vaginal inflammation, also causes similar accompanying symptoms. Here, reddening of the vulva and labia is also seen.
Swollen lymph nodes can be palpable as small painful nodules in the groin area. An infection with the pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis also causes a burning of the vagina. Typical accompanying symptoms of this trichomonas infection are itching and reddening of the vulva and vagina.
Small blisters may also appear at the beginning of the disease. Very characteristic of the disease is a greenish, foamy discharge with a very unpleasant odor. A fungal infection of the vagina manifests itself by a white, crumbly discharge, as well as severe itching and burning in the vagina.
After a few days or weeks without treatment, slight bleeding and tears in the vaginal mucosa may occur. They manifest themselves by small, spot-like bleedings on the toilet paper. A burning sensation in the vagina can also be a more serious infection of the ovaries or uterus.
The accompanying symptoms range from nausea, severe abdominal pain and fever to pain when urinating, diarrhoea or even constipation. Intermediate bleeding is also possible. Here you will find: Ovarian inflammation.
Itching (go here to the main article Itching in the vagina) is a common accompanying symptom of vaginal disorders. It often occurs in combination with a burning sensation in the vagina and is experienced by those affected as very distressing and unpleasant. The constant friction in the genital area, be it through movement or tight clothing, often further increases the itching.
Very often itching and burning of the vagina occur in a fungal infection of the vagina.A crumbly, white discharge is also typical for such a fungal infection of the vagina. An improvement occurs only hours after therapy with a fungicidal agent (antimycotic). Without therapy, the symptoms usually only worsen from day to day.
Some bacterial infections of the vagina can also cause itching and burning. In this case, however, itching is much less common than in a fungal infection. Various antibiotics are used to treat bacterial vaginosis.
Vulvitis, on the other hand, is characterized by itching, burning in the vagina and reddening of the vulva and labia. This inflammation of the vulva and the entrance to the vagina is very painful, especially during sexual intercourse. The causes of such vulvitis are very different.
If the burning sensation is the main symptom, infections such as genital herpes or an inflammatory skin disease such as lichen ruber are suspected. If the itching is more superficial, other diseases such as a fungal infection, an allergy, neurodermatitis, crabs, scabies or lichen sclerosus may be considered. The latter is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin characterized by itching, pain and a narrowing of the vaginal entrance.
The cause of this disease is unclear. A common cause of light vaginal bleeding accompanied by a burning sensation is a fungal infection of the vagina. This disease, also known as vulvocandidosis, affects most women at least once in their lives.
If left untreated, it leads to small tears in the vaginal mucosa. These small tears (ragades) cause bleeding. They usually appear as small, dripping bleedings on toilet paper. Proper intermediate bleeding or spotting, on the other hand, does not occur in a fungal infection. Spotting in combination with a burning sensation in the vagina is found in endometriosis.
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