What can cause vulval pain and itching?

Pain, itching, burning and irritation of the vulval area can be the result of an infection such as thrush or bacterial vaginosis, or the result of a non-infectious skin problem such as dermatitis, eczema or lichen sclerosis. There are also forms of vulval problems where the exact cause of the pain is unknown. In addition, women suffering from interstitial cystitis, a form of cystitis that appears to have no infection as its cause, also have vulval pain and tenderness as part of their symptoms.