Swelling of the labia during pregnancy: causes, treatment and prevention

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The female body changes during pregnancy, often all hidden diseases make themselves felt, manifesting themselves immediately or over time.

The genitals change during pregnancy due to the enlargement of the uterus, very often there is discomfort, pain in the genitals. During this period, immunity decreases, and therefore swelling of the labia may be due to genital infections, such as bartholinitis or vulvovaginitis.

Swelling during pregnancy

During the first weeks of pregnancy, physical changes to the outer genitalia are considered normal, including discoloration and slight swelling. Changing the color of the labia and a little itching is a natural process that occurs in all women. In the case when the lips bleed, discharge and severe swelling appear, this will serve as a reason to consult a specialist, because this is not normal.

Candidiasis

Itching along with swelling can be caused by infection. Almost all pregnant women have one disease - candidiasis (thrush). Disease symptoms:

• white milk-like discharge;
• vaginal mucosa swells;
• perineal itching and pain.

Gardnerellosis

Another reason for swelling of the labia is the defeat of gardnerella bacteria. Infection occurs through sexual contact with a carrier of the pathogen. As a result, the disease gardnerellosis is formed. It is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• very strong itching of the labia appears;
• dry mucous;
• swelling of the outer part of the vulva;
• perineal pain that gets worse with walking, intercourse, physical activity;
• the discharge becomes more, they have a greenish or gray color.

Genital herpes

When swelling of the labia, on which bubbles with liquid appear, which do not go away up to 7 days, we can talk about genital herpes. A woman may feel weakness, itching on the genitals, an increase in body temperature.

Sometimes when a disease appears, a person is unaware of it. The main symptom by which the disease is determined is rash. They can be found on the walls of the vagina, labia and cervix. This ailment is especially dangerous for the unborn child, often, if herpes appeared for the first time, doctors insist on an abortion. Another reason for the development of the disease is a decrease in immunity, at which point herpes worsens. With a neglected degree, the development of the child is disturbed, deviations in physical development occur,defects of the central nervous system and brain, often this causes fetal loss. Rashes and symptoms go away on their own after a couple of weeks, but you can’t do nothing, you need to urgently contact a gynecologist at the first sign of herpes.

Bartolinitis

There are cases when swelling appears only on one side and is accompanied by acute painful manifestations in the perineum. Such symptoms appear when infected with bartholinitis. In the presence of this disease, the glands that are responsible for the production of vaginal lubrication become clogged. Bartholin's glands are a paired organ located in the thickness of the labia majora. Disease symptoms:

• pain in surrounding tissues;
• swelling of the labia;
• redness of the mucosa;
• constant pain.

During pregnancy, swelling of the labia appears due to a decrease in immunity. It can be provoked:

• E. coli;
• staphylococci and streptococci;
• specific microorganisms;
• pathogenic bacteria.

In the later weeks of pregnancy, swelling occurs due to varicose veins of the labia. This is because the veins in the labia dilate.

Diagnosis

Due to the fact that the causes of the appearance of the main symptom are quite diverse, it is not acceptable to establish the correct diagnosis based only on the symptoms. Patients are shown laboratory and instrumental examinations, beforewhich the clinician should prescribe:

• interrogate the patient in detail about the first time of the appearance of labia edema during pregnancy and the nature of the expression, both the main symptom and additional ones;
• to study the history of the disease and make an anamnesis of the patient's life;
• perform a gynecological examination and assess the condition of the skin of the labia to reveal what symptoms are accompanied by swelling.

How to treat the labia?

Immediately before treatment, the cause of the disease is established, after which they proceed to the therapy procedure. It occurs according to the following criteria:

1. Infections appear due to a violation of personal hygiene, first you need to establish the cause of the pathogen, and only then proceed to the antibiotic treatment itself. Candidiasis is often treated with Fluconazole and Clotrimazole at the same time (ointments, suppositories and orally). The genital herpes virus is treated with drugs based on acyclovir. But it is contraindicated a month before childbirth and in the first 3-4 months after conception.
2. Very often swollen labia during pregnancy appear after intercourse, in which case it will pass on its own.
3. There are cases when swelling occurs before critical days and PMS, in this case, treatment is not required, as everything will pass by itself.
4. It is advised to wear maternity underwear. What is its beauty? Since the cause may be the impact on the female organs of non-quality matter, then suchMaternity underwear is made from natural fabrics and won't irritate sensitive areas.
5. With diabetes, treatment is prohibited, except perhaps with insulin. The most effective solution is to carry out the washing procedure with warm and cool water alternately on an ongoing basis. It is very useful to wipe the intimate parts of the body with a weak solution of citric acid or vinegar: half a teaspoon in a glass of water. You need to wash it several times a day. This procedure will help restore the acid balance.
6. Very often, swelling of the labia during pregnancy disappears on their own after childbirth. It is believed that edema cannot be treated during pregnancy, because most types of therapy to remove fluid from the body harm the baby much more than the edema itself. Many experts recommend switching to melted, soft, structured water like "Longavity".
7. When vulvovaginitis treatment is prescribed by a doctor. It consists in taking antifungal drugs, hormone replacements, antibiotics. It is also necessary to carry out douching with acceptable, prescribed drugs. During the treatment of labia edema during pregnancy, the vaginal microflora is restored by applying probiotics, eliminating allergens and other factors that act as irritants.
8. With bartholinitis, bed rest and abstinence from sexual activity are recommended. If the labia is swollen, only a doctor prescribes treatment. With severe pain, it is allowed to apply ice to the inflamed area. The following drugs are also allowed: imidazoles,fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, penicillins. It is necessary to treat swollen places with a special ointment and apply small compresses with Levomikol or ichthyol ointment. It is allowed to use a solution with chlorhexidine or miramistin for swelling of the labia during pregnancy.

Prevention

Preventive measures are as follows:

• If the labia is swollen, promiscuity and unfinished sex should be avoided.
• Only wear quality underwear made from natural materials to keep it in the right size.
• Keep personal hygiene daily with special products, do not use bath foam and shower gel.
• Use panty liners for genital swelling.
• Do not wear thermal underwear.
• Stay hygienic. After using the toilet, wipe from front to back to keep the genital area clean and dry.
• The vaginal area should be moisturized with a cream containing glycerin and non-allergic lubricants.