Why am I itchy after sex?

Itching after sex can have several causes, including:

• vaginal dryness during sex
• a reaction to condoms, lubricants, spermicides, soaps or shower gels
• thrush, a common yeast infection
• skin conditions, such as eczema or lichen sclerosus
• STIs, such as Trichomonas, genital Herpes, genital warts, pubic lice or scabies
• rarely, an allergy to semen

Where the itching is, when it starts and whether you have other symptoms, such as discharge, a smell or sores, can all help work out the cause.

Vaginal dryness

Vaginal dryness can make your vagina feel sore or itchy and make sex uncomfortable. It can be caused by the menopause, pregnancy, breastfeeding, some types of hormonal contraception, antidepressants, perfumed soaps or washes, or not being aroused during sex. A water-based lubricant can help.

A reaction to condoms, lubricants or soap

Soaps, shower gels, condoms, lubricants and spermicides can all irritate the skin around the vulva, and soaps, shower gels and condoms can irritate the penis. If you think condoms irritate your skin, try condoms for sensitive skin, or latex-free condoms if you might have a latex allergy. Avoid perfumed washes and douches.

Thrush

Thrush is a common yeast infection, and around 3 in 4 women will have it at least once. In women, it can cause itching and irritation around the vulva and vagina, a white discharge, often like cottage cheese, that doesn’t usually smell, and soreness or stinging during sex or when peeing. In men, it can cause irritation, burning and redness around the head of the penis. Thrush is not an STI, but sex can trigger it or, less often, pass it on. Read more in “Thrush or STI: how to know the difference”

Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is not classed as an STI, but sex can trigger it or pass it on. It doesn’t usually cause itching or soreness. The main sign is an unusual discharge with a strong fishy smell, particularly after sex. The discharge may become greyish-white, thin and watery. Half of women with BV have no symptoms.

Skin conditions

Eczema and lichen planus can cause itchy, sore patches around the vagina and on other parts of the body. Lichen sclerosus causes itchy white patches, most often on the genitals. It is more common in women over 50, and it can’t be passed on through sex.

Semen allergy

A semen allergy is rare. It usually causes burning, itching, redness or swelling straight after contact with semen, and condoms prevent it. In rare cases it can cause a severe allergic reaction, with swelling of the lips, tongue or throat and difficulty breathing. This needs urgent medical care.

Jock itch

Jock itch is a fungal infection of the groin, a type of ringworm. It causes a rash in the groin that may be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy. It can be passed on through close contact.

Trichomonas

Trichomonas can cause itching, soreness, swelling or redness in or around the vagina, a yellow-green discharge that may be frothy or smell fishy, and pain when peeing or having sex. Men may have discharge, pain when peeing and soreness in the penis. Symptoms can start 5 to 28 days after infection, or sometimes much later, and many people get none.

Genital Herpes

Herpes often starts with tingling, burning or itching around the genitals, followed by small blisters that burst to leave red, open sores. Read more in “Is it Herpes or thrush?”

Genital warts

Genital warts are caused by HPV. They don’t usually cause symptoms, but they can sometimes be itchy, painful or bleed.

Pubic lice

Pubic lice cause itching that is usually worse at night. They spread mainly through close body contact, and condoms don’t protect against them. Read more in “Are pubic lice an STI?”

Scabies

Scabies causes intense itching, especially at night, and a raised rash or spots. It spreads through close skin contact, including sex, and the rash can take up to 8 weeks to appear.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea often cause no symptoms. In men, Chlamydia can cause burning and itching around the penis and testicles. Gonorrhoea doesn’t usually cause genital itching, but an infection in the bottom can cause itching and discharge.

Itching of the penis after sex can be a sign of balanitis, which is when the head of the penis is swollen and sore. It can make the head of the penis red, itchy and sore, and cause pain when peeing, a thick discharge from under the foreskin or an unpleasant smell.

Balanitis can be caused by thrush, STIs such as Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea, not washing the penis properly, or soaps, shower gels and condoms irritating the skin. It is also more likely if you have diabetes.

Other causes in men include urethritis, which is usually caused by an STI such as Chlamydia. It can make the tip of the penis irritated or sore and cause pain when peeing.

You can’t always tell the cause from the itching alone, but other symptoms can give clues:

• Itching that starts after using a new condom, lubricant, soap or shower gel may be a reaction to it.
• Itching with dryness or pain during sex may be vaginal dryness.
• Itching with a white discharge, often like cottage cheese, that doesn’t usually smell may be thrush.
• A thin discharge with a fishy smell, often worse after sex, may be bacterial vaginosis, although BV doesn’t usually cause itching.
• A yellow-green, frothy or fishy discharge may be Trichomonas.
• Tingling or itching followed by small blisters or sores may be Herpes.
• Itching that is worse at night may be pubic lice or scabies.

If you have any of these symptoms, or the itching doesn’t go away, get tested so you know what you are treating.

Get tested if the itching keeps coming back or doesn’t settle, if you have discharge, a smell, sores, blisters, lumps or pain, or if it started after sex with a new partner.

• Comfort Screen: a urine test for 8 infections that can cause genital symptoms: Chlamydia, Gardnerella, Gonorrhoea, Herpes 1, Herpes 2, Mycoplasma, Trichomonas and Ureaplasma. You can test from 14 days, with results in 2 days at a clinic. It is also available as a home test kit.
• Bacterial Vaginosis: a vaginal swab test for BV.
• Herpes Simplex Type 1 and 2 (Swab) or Blemish Screen: if you have a sore, blister or lump, these test a swab taken from it.
• Platinum Screen: our most comprehensive STI screen, which tests for 12 infections, from 28 days.

If your lips, tongue or throat swell or you have difficulty breathing after sex, get urgent medical care. Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Is it normal to feel itchy after sex?

Mild itching that goes away quickly can be caused by dryness or a reaction to a condom, lubricant or soap. If it keeps happening, doesn’t settle, or comes with other symptoms, it is worth getting checked.

Can a new partner make you itchy?

Yes. You may react to a different condom, lubricant or soap, or rarely to your partner’s semen. A new partner can also pass on an infection that causes itching, such as Trichomonas, Herpes, pubic lice or scabies.

Can condoms make you itchy?

Yes. Condoms, and the lubricants and spermicides on them, can irritate the skin. If you think you have a latex allergy, use latex-free condoms.

Itching after sex can have many causes, including dryness, thrush or a reaction to a product. But some STIs, including Trichomonas, Herpes and pubic lice, can cause itching too.

If the itching doesn’t settle or comes with other symptoms, get tested. Book a Comfort Screen at a clinic near you or order a home test kit. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

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This article originally appeared on 15 January 2021 and was last updated on 30 September 2026.

Medical review. This article was medically reviewed by Dr Steve Chapman, Doctor with a wealth of clinical experience in the field of STIs, on 16 July 2025. It is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

Sources

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