Why does my vagina itch *days* before my period?
Have you ever noticed your vagina starts to itch a few days before your period…? Could it be a yeast infection? Maybe, maybe not. Many menstruating humans experience vaginal itching in different stages of their menstrual cycle. Remember, the menstrual cycle lasts ~28 days, having different functions in each stage, and every uterus is different! But why is it so common for people to experience that deadly itch before menstrual bleeding?
It could be many reasons, but it always links back to vaginal pH levels. A normal pH level for your vagina ranges from 3.5-4.5, which means it is acidic. If your pH levels are higher than 7, it is considered alkaline, which means your pH levels are too high and infection has risen. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again – your vagina is a self-cleaning oven, which means it doesn’t need any scented soaps or creams (that will mess with your pH balance) to get clean.
Is it yeast infection?
Yeast infections, also known as candidiasis, occur when there is an overgrowth of the Candida fungus in the body. While Candida is naturally present in various parts of the body, such as the mouth, intestines, and genital area, an overgrowth can lead to uncomfortable symptoms and complications. Symptoms like itching, burning sensation, redness, swelling, and abnormal vaginal discharge that is typically thick, white, and odorless. Learn more how to detect yeast infection and how to treat it from our blog.
Hormones also play a key role in your itchy vagina
Your vagina experiences a decrease of estrogen levels during the start of your period (the follicular phase). This change in estrogen is making your vaginal wall go all kinds of crazy, causing the vaginal wall to thin, increase inflammation, and create more acid in your vagina. Guess what? Yeast loves acidity, which could be one of the reasons why you feel itchy down there.
Aside from itching, many people also experience stinging and irritating sensations just days before or during their period. They could be experiencing cyclic vulvovaginitis.
We’ll elaborate.
Cyclic vulvovaginitis
Cyclic vulvovaginitis refers to the recurrent burning *and itching* happening down there before or during menstrual bleeding. It could mean that your vagina is experiencing intense burning, stinging, and overall irritation due to candida infection. How lovely does this sound? Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse, don’t even THINK about having sexual intercourse – your vaginal walls will scream Bloody Mary.
Are you boiling your menstrual cup before and after every cycle?
If you want to prevent your vagina from getting a yeast infection or other unwanted cause for itch, you've got to make sure you're boiling your menstrual cup consistently and cleaning it properly! Our Lunette Cup Cleanser not only cleans your cup, but it doesn't have any harsh chemicals that will mess with your pH levels! It's a win-win situation.
So how can we treat an itchy vagina, especially before menstruation?
Hopefully you don’t always experience discomfort before or during your period, but if you do, there are many ways to prevent itchiness and keep your pH levels balanced. Raw probiotic pills are a vagina’s best friend. Eating probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, or miso can also make a great impact. Let’s not forget about cranberry juice – that stuff is full of acidic compounds that will fight off bacteria and keep your vagina happy. Also, tight, synthetic underwear can suffocate your vagina and create moisture, so remember to let it breathe. It's important to clean your vulva (external area) with lukewarm water or products that are meant for the delicate genital area, like Lunette Intimate Wipes or patented Lunette Intimate Cleanser.
If you’re eating healthy, exercising, cleaning your cup right, and taking care of yourself, then you're doing it right!
57 comments
Hi Ambrii!
Oh no, sorry to hear that you’ve had some annoying itching and unpleasant smell. As you mentioned you and your husband were toghether just before it started, so we would recommend checking for any STDs/STIs. For some, the symptoms may start quickly after and for some they may be completely asymptomtomatic.
It could also be bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection or another issue caused by pH imbalance.
Unfortunately we cannot offer diagnoses as we are not medical professionals. Your doctor is the best person to consult with this question :)
-Team Lunette
I’ve read a bunch of things on google & still can’t figure out why I had itching. I’ve literally never had this before. About a week before my period me & my husband were “together” (thinking maybe that has something to do with it) and then the day before it started I got itchy, like REALLY itchy & dry, I tried using baby wipes to keep it moisturized and that helped the itch some but still hurt. Was itchy during part of my period but not all of it, thought it went away yesterday so i didn’t wear any period products, only to find out I still had a itty bitty bit of pink, well I went to sit how I normally sit with my knees in front of my chest, and got literally slapped with the smell. Could that all be from the same thing? I’ve never really itched down there, not like this, and I’ve never ever had any kind of smell down there before this. Please help 😭
Hi Emma!
Sorry for the confusion. I think the article refers to decreasing estrogen levels during the follicular phase (from the first day of your period to ovulation), which can cause some symptoms like itching, acidity and inflammation, leading to a higher possibility for yeast infection after your periods!
But you are also right! Many symptoms, such as bloating, headaches and even cramps and other PMS signs are happening in the luteal phase right before your periods.
Hope this clears up the article :)
Best,
Team Lunette
Hi! There is an error in the article! The phase right before your period starts (when all these nasty symptoms start) is the luteal phase! The follicular phase is actually after your period and before ovulation.
Hi Kathryne!
It can be totally normal to experience UTI symptoms during your period. If you only experience mild symptoms, you can try to ease it by drinking cranberry juice!
If the symptoms are severe, you are greatly affected by them or they do not seem to go away, we recommend contacting a healthcare professional for assessment. As we are not medical professionals we unfortunately cannot offer diagnosis.
-Team Lunette
Hi everyone! Apologies for not moderating the comments appropriately, and thank you to anyone who has defended the use on gender neutral language when talking about periods. We have now deleted the inappropriate comments regarding, and will do a better job with moderation in the future!
-Team Lunette
Is it normal to feel uti symptoms before and during period?
Also, I use different soaps on my body than I do in my vagina. Also, I use a different wash cloth for washing my vagina. Basically I have 3 washcloths in the slower. 1. Face and only face soap. 2. Vagina and only vaginal soap. 3 body and only use body soap like Almond Soap on my body. Good luck all and best wishes.
I use to have just one vagina lip that would itch…just the one, for days before my period my came. I now wear loose undies, use a vagina soap called Limsol or you can try the Summer Eves Boric Acid vagina wash. Keep ya vagina hair clipped close don’t shave it…shaving it clean made it worse for me. And also – try not to scratch it. Been doing well for years it still happens but not bad because I do this so it’s rare I get a flare up thatz bad. Best of luck all.
@laurie did you ever get pregnant
I used to suffer from BV. I stopped using tampons and I stopped wearing underwear (mainly thongs). I haven’t had BV in 7 years!
I also developed what I thought was yeast infections after I took my Birth Control out.
I just contributed them to trying to get pregnant. At first it was every few months. Then, it became every single month! I went to my very loved and experienced gynecologist. She put me on Diflucan daily, said get OTC yeast meds. The over the counter yeast infection meds did nothing but make me feel like I was on fire.
So at this point, it has been YEARS of being miserable! I spoke with my fertility specialist, she didn’t really have anything else that hasn’t been tried.
I was so freaking miserable and emotionally drained from all the itching and telling my husband for another month, no, we aren’t pregnant AND my vagina is messed up again! 😭
I was grazing at the store and saw hydrocortisone cream. On the front of the box it said STOPS ITCHING.
I really thought, I have ZERO to lose. I’m already itching, it can’t get worse than that!
I put it on before bed, the next day…… my vagina wasn’t itching!!!!!
I have been using that method for over a year now. I haven’t had to use anything else but that for a freaking year now! 🎉
When I notice I’m close to my period 😞, I apply it when I feel it starting to itch.
It really has been my saving Grace!
This happens to me every time before my period like a week before the external area itches and burn with hives I’ve used aloes to soothe it but it keeps coming back each and every time before my period comes.
Miechelle, cisgender women aren’t the only people with vaginas. Educate yourself before going on an ignorant tirade.
WHAT IS KEVITA KOMBUCHA AND I DO I GET IT
Is Miechelle okay? Considering her sensitivity toward a totally inoffensive, three-sentence comment, I’m worried she may have had an aneurysm the second anything substantial occurred in her life. Hm.
Clearly you don’t moderate your comments if you allow “ Miechelle Hart April 16, 2021”‘s comment through.
I’m having the same issues, itching and irritation burning sensation before my period. I’ve been tested for stds and I seem to Always have BV, what are the chances it could be herpes? I don’t have any sores or anything like that but I’ve been checked so many times and don’t know what else it is.. the burning inside is annoying and depressing me.. stopping me from everyday activities.
Hi Alice! We’re so sorry to hear you’re struggling with itching every month! Unfortunately we cannot offer diagnoses as we are not medical professionals. Your doctor is the best person to consult with this question. 💙
-Team Lunette
I have been struggling with vaginal pain and swelling for two years. Just like many of you I have seen numerous gynecologists, they have done Paps, cultures, ultrasounds, and blood tests; according to them I am the healthiest human on the planet. I am here to tell you it is not yeast (I have been tested for all resistant forms of yeast), it is not bacteria (again, all tests normal), and I have nearly starved on elimination diets, I have been vegan, I have stopped drinking alcohol, anything with sugar, and removed all bread from my diet…nothing. I was also tested for diabetes and arthritis; again, normal. The one thing that stands out in my mind is I had my tubes removed to prevent anymore pregnancies and the symptoms began 6 months after that surgery. I will also tell you that topical estrogen creams help on the worst days. My symptoms begin 4-10 days before my period. The 3 days before my period are agonizing. This is something that is affecting so many of us. I simply cannot understand why more research is not being done.
Hello :) I’ve been suffering itchiness on my external vagina since some months ago. I called my doctor and she told me to use Saforelle gel. It kinda works when I use it (it surely helps) but the symptoms are still there, always some days (4-8) before my period. I also increased my intake of probiotics.
I don’t have any other gynecological problems, as my vaginal discharge is ok and I don’t have any pain, but although this might not be serious, it disrupts my daily life every month.
I’m curious if this could be caused by anemia. I know I have a low iron level right now (maybe since some time ago), and my doctor prescribed some pills. Do you think this itchiness will disappear when my iron level improves??
Thank you
I have the same problem. Few days before i get this burning sensation in the “entry” area. All tests results are fine, i’m super healthy. I tried hialuronic acid gels and stuff but… it made it worse. My doctor told me to stop using anything acidic – i switched to high ph gel and …oinment with linseed extract (super cheap and avaialable in pharmacies in poland).
Violet, I have the same thing happen to me. I just my results and everything is negative, makes me wonder if I’m going crazy!
I always get this burning sensation days before I start my period it burns when I go to the toilet and is very uncomfortable. Have had a swab done and everything came back clear. I’m not sure why it happens? Does anyone else get this?
Go to the gynecologist! It’s worth it so you can find out what it is. Last year I had a really bad yeast infection. It would not go away! It was so bad I wasn’t sure if it was a yeast infection or not until I got tested. The prescription was garbage, it did nothing for me. I went to my gyno many times. She even doubled the dose. It did nothing. Boric acid suppository kind of helped. It was my first relief. (I did my research and because of the agony I said screw it.) Take it at your own risk though. Do your research. In the end, the one that helped me was the otc monistat 7 day with the extra cream. (Vulva) it’s been almost a year since I had one. Although recently around my period I’m irritated there. Planning to see the gyno soon to figure out why. I don’t think it’s a yeast infection because after my period it’s gone.
It is very helpful that you are not gendering menstruation. Wish everyone was as attentive as you. Thank you for all the info!
