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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Female -- Vaginal Discharge/Infections > Irritated vagina
Posted on: 02/28/2007
Question
I haven't been sexually active since October of 2006, and the problem started today, 2-19-07. I'm not entirely worried because it happened before, but I was just wondering what it could be and if I should see a doctor. My vagina is extremely irritated. It's really, really red and burns when I try to inspect the area. It's raw, basically, and when my fingers touch the irritated area, the natural salt on my skin kind of burns the irritated skin. One of my outer lips is swollen and it's really itchy. Everything else is normal. This happens to me sometimes before or after my period, but I've been on depo provera for almost a year now so I haven't had a normal period. Once in a while it itches really bad, and once I itch the area to the point of raw-irritation the itch goes away, but it was still irritated before the itch and remains after.
Answer
You need to see a clinician to know for sure, but it sounds like an infection, which can happen without having sex. Make an appointment and good luck!