Expecting a child is a joyful, but difficult period in a woman's life. Her body is rebuilding, trying to create ideal conditions for the baby. However, some changes cannot be called the norm.

If the labia hurts during pregnancy, it is advisable to go to the doctor, this may indicate a number of diseases, it is better to identify and treat them at an early stage: vulvovaginitis, bartholinitis, genital herpes, venous varicose veins. All of these diseases threaten both the health of the mother and the child.

How do the labia change during pregnancy

The labia are called folds in the perineum. Allocate large labia, protecting the vagina. Under the large ones are small ones, surrounding the vestibule of the vagina, passing into the clitoris. Most often they are bright pink.

In an interesting position, a woman undergoes a complete restructuring of the body, she is preparing to bear a child, the labia also changes: they swell a little, become purple or cyanotic, which the gynecologist immediately sees upon examination. This is considered the norm, so do not worry when they swell and change color. Why is this happening, are these changes dangerous?

In a woman during this period, physiological changes begin:

1. There is more of the hormone progesterone in the blood, it must prepare the body for a difficult period, to maintain the pregnancy.
2. Thanks to progesterone, blood vessels dilate, blood flow to the genitals increases.
3. Blood rushes to the genitals, they change: they can change color, become cyanotic, begin to swell.

Such changes are natural, therefore, do not threaten health in any way. But if during pregnancy pain appears in the intimate area, it is better to consult a doctor.

Pain - the norm or a reason to see a doctor

The changes that occur in a woman's body are the norm, you should not worry about swelling, discoloration.

However, pain may indicate the presence of a number of diseases, so it is advisable to report it to the doctor in order to immediately begin treatment.

Sometimes discomfort, discomfort are caused by the following reasons:

• a woman forgets about the rules of intimate hygiene;
• she is going through a difficult period, and emotional and mental overstrain affects the whole body;
• does not know how to pick up underwear: buys too tight, synthetic;
• she showed an allergy to certain products, to gaskets of a certain company;
• a pregnant woman has an imbalance of the vaginal microflora.

If discomfort appeared due to the above reasons, you need to take care of comfort by buying other underwear, giving up pads or food. Unpleasant symptoms have not passed? Urgently to the gynecologist!

What causes labia pain - possible causes

If there is constant pain, you should not self-diagnose, and even more so, self-medicate. It is better to immediately seek help from an experienced gynecologist, who, after the necessary tests and examination, will make an accurate diagnosis.

There are several diseases that cause genital pain during pregnancy.

Vulvovaginitis

Vulvovaginitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the labia and vaginal membrane. Often occurs in women who do not monitor the cleanliness of intimate places. But it can appear due to other reasons: due to sexually transmitted infections, after sex, when it was rough and damage to the genitals occurred.

The symptoms are as follows:

• plaque appears on the labia during pregnancy;
• they itch and hurt;
• the outer shell of the vulva turns red;
• serous-purulent discharge appears.

If these signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor - there is a risk of losing a child. If the disease appeared at a later date, at the 7th month of pregnancy, premature birth may begin, untimely discharge of amniotic fluid will occur, which will cause hypoxia in the fetus. There is a risk of intrauterine infection.

Bartholinitis

Bartholinitis - inflammation of the Bartholin glands (located at the entrance to the vagina), caused by various microorganisms (enterococci, staphylococci, chlamydia). The disease is undesirable during pregnancy, its foci are located near the uterus. If bartholinitis appeared early, that is, up to 20 weeks, the infection can lead to the death of the child. In the later stages there is a risk of infection of the baby. Therefore, treatment cannot be delayed.

Signs:

• mucous becomes red;
• the affected area swells, the swelling grows over time;
• the labia may hurt, the pain becomes stronger with physical exertion, walking, urination, during intimate relationships;
• with a purulent form of the disease, a cavity filled with pus is formed, small seals appear near the vagina;
• lethargy, loss of strength;
• the temperature rises to 39 degrees.

What to do if during after sex or physical exertion there is pain, if the labia is swollen and reddened? It is necessary to see a doctor who will prescribe a course of antibiotics or recommend another treatment.

Genital herpes

The culprit of genital herpes is the herpes virus type 2 or 1, it is transmitted by contact: through saliva, semen, upon contact with herpes lesions on the mucous membranes.

Why does herpes cause pain? Already 4 or 5 days after infection, papules form on the mucous membrane, the skin of the genital organs, they later turn into vesicles. After 2 or 3 days, the blisters open, painful erosions form at this site, the labia itches, and discharge may appear.

After 7-10 days, all symptoms disappear, but there may be relapses. In most women, the disease proceeds without severe symptoms, but it can be diagnosed with the help of special tests and analyzes. A pregnant woman must definitely undergo a course of treatment, otherwise the child will be born with signs of herpes.

Venous varicose veins

Pain symptoms are often a sign of an unpleasant disease - venous insufficiency (varicose veins). Pathology occurs in 20% of expectant mothers, appears due to physical exertion. Knots, bumps, stars of a bluish tint are visible in the perineum. The patient is worried about excruciating pains, they are aggravated by urination, walking, having sex. The organs become edematous, swollen, there is a feeling of heaviness, itching worries.

Pregnancy is not the period when it is worth resorting to a surgical method of treatment, even if it hurts a lot. The doctor will try to stop the development of varicose veins, reduce the symptoms. After the birth of a child, you can do laser coagulation or phlebectomy.

The specialist tells about this disease:

How to reduce pain - methods of treatment

What to do if the labia hurts during pregnancy, left or right? Do I need to see a doctor? Yes need. The doctor will examine the patient, take tests and make an accurate diagnosis, after which you will have to undergo a course of treatment. Only a doctor should select drugs; pregnant women should not take many drugs.

What a specialist can prescribe:

1. Antibiotics.
2. Vitamins to mobilize the body's defenses.
3. Hygienic measures, namely the treatment of problem areas with a solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%).
4. When an abscess ruptures (bartholinitis), Levomekol and Vishnevsky ointment can be used for treatment.
5. For the treatment of genital herpes, antiviral therapy is prescribed, most often Acyclovir is used. A caesarean section is recommended for a pregnant woman to prevent infection of the child.
6. With venous insufficiency, they acquire special underwear without tight details. It is recommended to do therapeutic exercises, walk more in the fresh air. Patients are prohibited from physical activity, they cannot lift weights, wear high-heeled shoes and take hot baths.

Preventive actions

Pregnancy is a difficult period in a woman's life, her body is under severe stress. She especially needs to take care of her health, since the disease can also affect the condition of the child, lead to a miscarriage or the birth of a sick baby.

Therefore, even in the early stages of pregnancy, and better before it, you should take care of your health, do not forget about simple preventive measures:

1. Personal hygiene is very important. It is necessary to wash in the morning, in the evening, after each trip to the toilet.
2. As a preventive measure, at least 2-3 times a week, use special washing products designed for intimate hygiene.
3. Buy only high-quality underwear made from natural fabrics.
4. Pregnant women should avoid unprotected sex, especially when the partner is a carrier of herpes viruses or has an STD.
5. To prevent the occurrence of venous varicose veins, it is advisable to wear compression underwear in advance, it promotes good blood circulation. It is important to monitor your weight, if necessary, follow a diet. Forget about high heels. Weight lifting, physical activity is contraindicated.

Conclusion

Should I be worried if my labia hurts during pregnancy? There is no need to be afraid and worry, stress will only aggravate the situation. But waiting a few months for the pain to pass is dangerous for the mother and for the child. You need to contact a specialist, tell him what exactly worries you, take tests.

The doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. If you do not delay the visit to the gynecologist, immediately start taking medications, any disease can be cured or at least suspended. Modern medicine has advanced far ahead, so now doctors can cope with many diseases, provided that the patient seeks help in time and does not refuse traditional treatment.

It may seem strange to some, but during pregnancy, changes also occur with the woman's genitals, in particular the labia. And this is quite normal and natural. The change is even one of the . True, a gynecologist can rather notice such a symptom, unless the woman herself specifically checks the situation, which also often happens. And many at the same time note the darkening (cyanosis and purplishness) of these organs as early as 10-12 days after conception. But too noticeable changes with the labia, which often cause discomfort, pain and even itching to a pregnant woman, occur in the middle and second half of the term.

With the onset of pregnancy, under the influence of hormones, the blood supply to the pelvic organs increases significantly, which is provided by nature to facilitate delivery. Each organ undergoes certain changes. The small and large labia, along with other organs, increase in size (as if they swell) and become more elastic. The skin in this area (as well as around the nipples and along the midline of the abdomen) usually changes color to a darker one.

However, changes in the labia may have several other reasons. The growing fetus presses with its weight, including on the arteries, which worsens blood circulation. This can cause swelling of the labia, but usually the situation does not pose any danger. It can even come to varicose veins of the labia, which is quite common during pregnancy. Women note that veins come out on the lips or seals appear. There is no need to worry about this: after pregnancy (and often even before childbirth), the woman's condition improves, and the problem disappears on its own. Varicose veins of the labia, as a rule, are not an indication for a caesarean section, as many people think about it. In any case, the doctor decides on the method of delivery closer to childbirth.

To alleviate your condition with varicose veins, you should walk more, as well as rest, lying on your side. Sitting and standing increase congestion in the veins and pain. Choose for yourself a special compression underwear without seams. Talk to your doctor - he may prescribe you some drugs, for example, an ointment. Do not be afraid, but sometimes in such conditions it is possible to develop acute varicothrombophlebitis and rupture of altered veins, which is fraught with massive bleeding. However, in the vast majority of cases, all unpleasant phenomena disappear immediately after childbirth. And attentive obstetricians warn expectant mothers about the possible appearance of the mentioned signs in advance.

So if you are experiencing something like this, there are two pieces of news for you. The bad news is that you have to endure it. And the good thing is that there is nothing wrong with the increase and soreness of the labia during pregnancy, and everything will disappear without a trace after childbirth.

Specially for- Elena Kichak

Pregnancy is a difficult period in a woman's life. Expectant mothers need to take better care of themselves, but you should not worry about every occasion.

During the gestation period, the female body undergoes dramatic changes. The hormonal background changes, painful sensations appear in the abdomen and lower back, discomfort in the chest and genitals. All this helps the body prepare for the upcoming birth. However, some unpleasant symptoms sometimes indicate the development of pathology, so a woman should be attentive to severe pain and itching in the intimate area.

How do the labia change during pregnancy?

A distinctive feature of the onset of pregnancy is the changed color of the external genitalia. The woman herself rarely pays attention to this, changes are more often noticed by the gynecologist during the examination. Usually this symptom appears at 10-12 weeks of gestation. Swelling of the labia due to the physiological adaptation of the body is more often observed at the end of the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy.

From the moment of conception, a woman's hormonal background changes, blood circulation in the pelvic area increases. The size of the labia also changes - they become larger and more elastic. The skin may become purplish or take on a dark tint, sometimes cyanosis appears.

Possible causes of pain in the labia

Many pregnant women often have to experience pain in the perineum, passing into the genitals. This condition is usually caused by natural causes.
Among them are:

• changes in hormone levels;
• swelling of the genitals;
• incorrect body position (long stay in a sitting position);
• improperly fitting underwear.

A special hormone relaxin is actively released into the blood of a pregnant woman. It helps to relax the ligamentous apparatus of the inguinal region. In addition, the growing uterus puts pressure on the pelvic bones, which is why the expectant mother feels heaviness and discomfort in the groin.

Why do lips swell?

The external genitalia in pregnant women swell due to the following physiological reasons:

• excessive pressure of the fetal bladder on the pelvic organs, leading to stagnation of blood;
• the accumulation of a large number of fat cells in the subcutaneous fat of the intimate area;
• hormonal edema, spreading to the large and small labia.

Similar conditions caused by these reasons do not need therapy. Some time after childbirth, swelling in the intimate area will gradually decrease. In some cases, swelling of the external genital organs is caused by pathological causes (infection, varicose veins, hypersensitive reaction of the body to an irritant, etc.).

Phlebeurysm

Symptoms of varicose veins can include:

• pain while walking;
• discomfort during intimacy;
• painful urination;
• heaviness in the groin.

With a slight severity of varicose veins, treatment is not carried out. The expectant mother needs to walk more often, spend less time in a sitting position, preferably lying down to rest. If the woman's condition causes concern, the doctor prescribes medications that improve blood flow in the problem area. Before childbirth, therapy is stopped, as the risk of bleeding is high.

Candidiasis (thrush)

After conception, the immune system of a pregnant woman is weakened, which often causes the development of fungal infections. Typical symptoms of thrush are:

• severe itching;
• burning;
• profuse curdled discharge from the vagina.

Candidiasis gives the expectant mother a lot of inconvenience, the labia constantly itch, there is a pronounced swelling. When combing on the inflamed mucosa, microtraumas and abrasions occur, which often leads to the addition of a secondary infection.

When the first signs of thrush are found, a pregnant woman should consult a doctor. The attending gynecologist will choose the safest treatment tactics. Usually, patients in such cases are prescribed Fluconazole or Clotrimazole, and multivitamin complexes to maintain immunity (we recommend reading:).

Other reasons

Changes in the body that occur during gestation are considered normal. No need to worry if the external genitalia are slightly swollen, changed color and hurt a little. In cases where unpleasant symptoms cause significant discomfort, the expectant mother should not delay a visit to the doctor.

Enlargement and inflammation of the genitals can also be associated with non-compliance with hygiene rules, the use of too tight synthetic underwear. Sometimes irritation occurs when allergens (washing powder, intimate hygiene products, soap or shampoo) get on the skin.

Allergic reactions can be caused by foods and some medications that a woman used before pregnancy without any problems. Often the cause of discomfort in the groin is an imbalance in the microflora of the vagina, resulting in inflammation and pain.

During gestation, a woman may experience high psycho-emotional stress. A change in the level of hormones in the blood makes the expectant mother capricious and irritable, which also affects the appearance of pain in the intimate area.

Itching and its possible causes

There are many reasons why the labia majora and labia minora can itch. This mainly occurs with the development of the following gynecological infections:

• candidiasis;
• vulvovaginitis;
• gonorrhea;
• genital herpes;
• chlamydia and others.

Against the background of an infectious-inflammatory process, a woman may experience pain in the lower abdomen. Discharge from the vagina becomes abundant, their color may be different (depending on the pathogen).

One of the most dangerous diseases for a pregnant woman is genital herpes. The virus can enter the baby's body during childbirth. Its danger lies in the fact that it causes pathologies in the development of the visual organs and the child's brain.

If the expectant mother has contracted genital herpes, rashes will soon appear in the intimate area, which look like small bubbles filled with liquid. After the pimples have opened, there is a burning sensation and severe itching, the female genital organs become inflamed and swell.

Principles of treatment

If a woman notices that her lower back is pulled, her stomach hurts, her external genitalia are swollen and greatly increased in size, she should seek qualified help as soon as possible to minimize the risk of complications (see also:). With a properly selected treatment regimen, there is every chance of safely enduring and giving birth to a healthy baby.

At the initial examination, the doctor will take the appropriate tests. If the cause of unpleasant symptoms is an infection, treatment will be aimed at combating the infectious agent. With thrush, the patient is prescribed antimycotics, with herpes - antiviral agents.

Inflammatory processes in the vagina are stopped by douching with antiseptic solutions. If the cause of swelling and discoloration of the genitals is an allergy, it is necessary to limit contact with the allergen.

If the labia hurts during pregnancy with known disorders in the endocrine system, the patient is referred for a consultation with narrow specialists. Refusal of drug therapy can lead to serious consequences - both for the mother and for her baby.

If the labia hurts during pregnancy, then this indicates changes that have occurred in the woman's body. Many gynecologists already at the first examination can determine the successful conception by the state of the external genital organs. Therefore, a change in the color of the perineum and some swelling indicates a restructuring of the body, in rare cases, with intense pain, the situation is associated with pathological processes.

Why do labia hurt during pregnancy?

After fertilization of the egg, the body creates the most comfortable conditions for intrauterine formation. In the early stages, the labia majora swell somewhat and change color to a darker one. The situation is associated with hormonal metamorphoses and an increase in blood volume.

Progesterone is produced to maintain pregnancy, the hormone expands the walls of blood vessels and stimulates blood flow to the pelvic area. As a result of such changes, pain appears in the labia, they become larger, acquiring some puffiness and swelling.

When diagnosing a pathology, when a woman complains that her labia hurts during pregnancy, the doctor analyzes the manifestation of additional symptoms. So, important factors are compliance with the rules of intimate hygiene, the presence of synthetic underwear, possible intolerance to certain foods. These factors can provoke temporary discomfort, which is eliminated along with the disappearance of the provoking element.

Pathological causes of soreness of the labia

If the labia is swollen and sore, while itching is felt, then these are symptoms of an infectious lesion. During gestation, such signs are often caused by the following diseases:

• Bartholinitis is an inflammatory pathology that manifests itself more often in the left labia, due to clogging of specific glands. This condition is characterized by acute pain in the perineum, edematous reaction and redness of the skin. Symptoms become stronger during physical activity or with prolonged sitting;
• Vulvovaginitis occurs as a result of inflammation, moderate pain appears in the area of ​​the labia with simultaneous swelling and redness;
• Candidiasis or "thrush" is characterized not only by itching, but also by the appearance of thick whites from the vagina with a sour-milk smell. In the absence of treatment, the fungal microflora begins to develop intensively against the background of reduced immunity;
• Varicose veins provoke local circulatory disorders and strong pressure of the growing uterine cavity. The disease is accompanied by moderate pain, swelling of the small and large labia.

Herpetic eruptions on the external genitalia appear as a result of a decrease in the body's immune defenses. The disease becomes a threat to normal intrauterine development, while symptoms are observed that are not only pain. There is a strong itching, burning, unpleasant discharge from the vagina and, which is typical for herpes, a rash occurs, with a tendency to merge, a blood sore is formed.

The answer to the question of why the labia hurt during pregnancy involves an assessment of all provoking factors. With normal analyzes and in the absence of pathological processes, experts insist that this is a normal reaction of the body to internal changes, which does not require third-party intervention or treatment. After the birth of a child, the functioning of the female body will return to normal on its own.

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