What Are the Causes of Vaginal Itching & Spotting?

Vaginal itching and spotting can occur simultaneously or separately. Vaginal itching is a nuisance and spotting can be as well if you are bleeding unexpectedly and end up staining your clothing. Spotting may be an indication that something is awry so you need to address this with your doctor.

Anovulation and Ovulation

• Vaginal spotting or light bleeding can occur when a woman ovulates mid-cycle. However, lack of ovulation, or anovulation, can also result in spotting, according to Mothernature.com.

Other Causes of Spotting

• If you are experiencing spotting that doesn’t correlate with ovulation you may have an infection of the uterine lining (edometrium) or of the bladder, cervix or vagina. In addition, the presence of fleshy growths or polyps in the vagina can cause spotting as can complications of pregnancy, cancer, abnormal cells in your cervix, birth control pills, cervical dysplasia and hormonal imbalances.

Bacterial Vaginosis

• The primary cause of vaginal infections and itching is bacterial vaginosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is caused by sexual activity but it isn’t a sexually transmitted disease. Douching can also result in BV as can anything that changes the vaginal pH level. You may successfully treat BV with over-the-counter products or it may require a prescription drug from your doctor.

Avoid Vaginal Infections

• Avoid getting vaginal infections and the subsequent itch by keeping yourself clean and dry. Avoid using fragrant soap and wear cotton underpants because they allow your body to breath. Don’t use fragrant toilet paper or bubble bath. Eat yogurt, which contains live cultures, when you are taking antibiotics because a regimen of antibiotics is notorious for causing vaginal itching. Antibiotics kill the friendly bacteria that we all have and need and when the bacteria are depleted by a round of antibiotics this results in yeast infections and itching, according to Mothernature.com. The yogurt should counteract this.

Treatment

• Your physician may prescribe lotions or steroid creams to reduce inflammation or ointments that contain hormones. Other medicines that help include antihistamines or benzodiazepines and antibiotics specifically aimed at treating vaginal infections. Antifungal drugs may be prescribed.