Genital Swelling and Itching: What Are the Causes?

      Women’s urogenital system is the most sensitive, making it susceptible to inflammation and other diseases. When a woman notices swelling and itching in her genital area, it is often due to recent infections such as vaginitis, urethritis, or urinary reproductive system infections, as well as prolonged lack of hygiene which may result in bacterial damage. Therefore, it is an issue that generally requires attention.

      1. Western Medicine’s Pathology of Etiology.

      The main results are as follows:

      (1) Insufficient postpartum blood due to injuries during delivery, excessive bleeding, or residual placenta, which makes the reproductive system vulnerable to pathogens that can cause infections.

      (2) The actual operation of the uterine cavity, such as the insertion of an IUD, scraping, or primitive inflammation of the reproductive system, can lead to infection and external spread.

      (3) Poor environmental hygiene during the physiological stage and menstrual period can cause inflammation due to pathogens invading the uterine cavity, lower reproductive system infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia cervicitis, the rising spread triggered by pelvic inflammatory disease.

      (4) Rapid spread of nearby organ inflammation, such as appendicitis, peritonitis, cystitis, etc. Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause re-infection, leading to subacute diseases.

      2. TCM’s Diagnosis and Treatment Based on Syndrome Differentiation

      The common causes are mainly due to heat-toxin fever, dampness obstruction, and blood stasis.

      3. Clinical Symptoms

      The main results are as follows:

      (1) Abdominal bloating and pain accompanied by fever, even high fever and chills, increased secretion, pus, and foul odor in women.

      (2) Clinical symptoms include acute diseases, fever, rapid heart rate, muscle anxiety, tenderness and rebound pain in the lower abdomen, and bowel striations.

      Gynecological examination: vaginal congestion, a large amount of purulent secretions, prominent uterine cervix tenderness, edema.

      Significant lifting pain, slightly enlarged uterine body, too soft, tenderness, limited movement. Bilateral tubal tenderness, sometimes palpable masses.

      4. Diagnosis

      The medical history includes obstetric and gynecological surgical history, pelvic inflammatory disease, lack of hygiene during the physiological period, and unclean sexual intercourse.

      Clinical manifestations include high fever, lower abdominal pain, medical information network sorting, increased vaginal secretion, muscle anxiety, tenderness, and rebound pain.

      Laboratory tests show leukocytosis, increases in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Vaginal scraping shows a large number of leukocytes, and puncture of the posterior cul-de-sac can absorb concentrated fluid. Isolation, puncture fluid, and blood clotting can be tested to assist with type B color Doppler ultrasound warning of pelvic inflammatory leakage or mass.

      5. Western Medicine Treatment

      Antibiotics are given based on the results of drug sensitivity testing. Combination infections of aerobic bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Chlamydia trachomatis are more common, so antifungal drugs and commonly used drugs are often used as antibiotics. Commonly used drugs include penicillin, cephalosporin, aminoglycoside, streptomycin, tetracycline, quinolone, nitroimidazole, clindamycin, and lincomycin.

      If the treatment is ineffective and bilateral tubal cysts or bilateral salpingo-oophoritis cysts persist or cysts rupture, surgical treatment may be considered. Surgery is performed according to the patient’s age, general condition, type of disease, and the aim is to remove the disease. The range of surgical treatment should be determined accordingly.