We all females are very sensitive regarding our vagina because of its tube-like structure that plays an important role in the release of the baby and our menstrual blood.
A Female’s vagina has a natural balance of good and bad bacteria. The bacterial attack occurs when that balance is disturbed. Although the vagina is a self-cleaning part of the body that doesn’t need special attention to clean. Many doctors ask to avoid using soaps for cleaning due to their self-cleaning properties.
Vagina swelling occurs due to any minor infection, a cyst, or sometimes sexual arousal. There is nothing to worry about in swollen vaginas as it rarely causes serious health problems in females.
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Vaginal Swelling During Pregnancy
When you get pregnant a lot of changes happen to your body that you had not expected. These changes occur in different parts of your body and sometimes you find it embarrassing to talk about your vagina with someone. Swelling may be one of them that occurs in her vagina.
After one month of conception as pregnancy progresses, an increased blood flow within the entire pelvic starts circulating. This increased circulation which is a common issue during pregnancy can also affect the vagina of a female.
If you are pregnant and experience swelling in your feet, legs, and vagina. You may find it severe and painful then you should have a consultation with your doctor.
What Cause Vaginal Swelling
The vagina is a sensitive area of the female body that got swollen for various reasons. These causes range from infectious to non-infectious reasons. Sometimes your sanitary pads and menstrual cup cause an infection.
The fact is, not all type of vagina swelling is abnormal sometimes when you feel sexually aroused your vagina gets swollen. Sometimes when you ride a bike for a longer period of time it causes swelling in your vagina.
Usually, Swelling disappears within 2 to 3 days. If you find something abnormal and it stays for a longer period of time please contact your nearest best gynecologist. Your specialist will help you to understand the reasons that are causing swelling. Some common causes are like
Allergic to Ingredients
Females use different personal care products that have different types of chemicals and ingredients. These ingredients cause allergies to your sensitive vagina. These personal care products such as
- Soaps
- Vaginal washes
- Wax
- Oil
- Menstrual cups and pads
- Body creams and lotions
- Condoms
- Hair removal creams
When you try a new personal care product it may cause a reaction to your skin but sometimes an old product can also cause an allergy. If you face any allergic reaction to these products it is better to stop using them and you should consult with a skin specialist.
Irritation
Sometimes you may not face an allergic reaction but your body causes a reaction to some personal care products. Even the most popular product that has been used by many people around you causes swelling in your vagina.
Fragrances are the most common products that come in contact with your vagina and cause irritation.
- Perfumes
- Detergents
- Bubble bath
- Toilet paper
- Body washes
Even a piece of cloth such as underwear can cause irritation in your vagina. It is important to identify the reasons that cause irritation. This way you can save your vagina from swelling.
Sexual Intercourse
Rough sexual intercourse can cause swelling in the vagina. When there is less lubricant in your vagina, there will be friction during intercourse. This friction may cause discomfort and pain while doing sex.
Rough sexual intercourse also tears the vaginal tissues and puts your vagina at a higher risk of infection.
An anti-inflammatory and painkiller can help you to deal with the infection. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medicine that you can purchase online.
Yeast Infection
An overgrowth of candida fungal species can cause a yeast infection. This can cause vaginal infection and some other symptoms like
- Burning
- Pain during urination
- Thick discharge
- Redness
- Irritation
Antifungal medications are the best option to treat yeast infection but you need to look for a specialist as many problems have similar symptoms.
Edema
One of the reasons behind vaginal swelling is edema. Edema is caused by a collection of water molecules trapped in your body tissues. Lymph Nodes and veins failing to drain cause edema in the vagina.
During pregnancy or other conditions that cause uterus enlargement, or put pressure on your veins causing edema in your vagina.
If you gently massage this area this can relieve the vagina swelling. You should contact your doctor to find out a reason for edema and you can perform this massage under the supervision of the doctor.
Herpes Simplex Virus
A herpes simplex virus is a sexually transmitted virus that causes genital herpes. It causes a collection of tiny painful blisters near your vagina. These blisters cause discomfort and pain in your vagina.
There is no recognized medicine to cure it. Doctors prescribed medicines that can reduce the inflammation and prevent you from the outbreak.
STIs and Cervicitis
Some bacterial infections cause inflammation in the cervix, this is called cervicitis. Symptoms of cervicitis include unusual bleeding from the vagina, painful intercourse, and abnormal discharge.
STIs that cause vaginal swelling are mentioned below
- Chlamydia: This causes painful urination and abnormal discharge. It also aggressively affects the reproductive system of the female.
- Gonorrhea: It has symptoms similar to bladder or urinary tract infection. This causes bleeding between periods and abnormal discharge.
- Trichomoniasis: It may have no symptoms and is caused by a parasite. When they appear symptoms include itching, pain, swelling, and change in discharge.
Things You Should Consider
The vagina is a sensitive part of the body. Vagina swelling mostly occurs due to minor issues. The most common causes are the use of personal products. It disappears within 2 to 3 days. If vaginal swelling stays for a longer period of time you may need to visit the specialist. A specialist will identify the symptom and get to know the possible cause of the swelling.
