Description

Vulvodynia (vul-voe-DIN-e-uh) is a type of long-term pain or discomfort around the outer part of the female genitalia, called the vulva. Lasts at least three months and not have a clear cause. The pain, burning or irritation associated with vulvodynia can make you so uncomfortable that sitting for a long period of time, or having sex becomes unthinkable. The condition can last from months to years.

If you have symptoms of vulvodynia, don't let embarrassment or lack of visible signs of stop talking with your gynecologist or other health care professional. Treatments can relieve your discomfort. And your care team may be able to find the cause of your pain. Thus, it is key to obtaining a medical exam.

Symptoms

The main vulvodynia symptom is pain in the vulva, which includes the opening of the vagina. The pain is often described as:

  • Burning.
  • Irritation.
  • Stinging.
  • Rawness.
  • Pain.
  • Sharp or knife-like pain.

You also may feel pain, tingling, and swelling.

How often the symptoms occur and where exactly are felt varies from person to person. Your pain may be constant or may come and go. May be ignited only when the vulva is touched. You can feel the pain all over your vulva. This is called vulvodynia widespread. Or the pain can flare up in a certain area, such as the tissue that surrounds the opening of the vagina, called the lobby. This is known as localized vulvodynia, and is more common generalization of the class.

The tissue of the vulva may be slightly swollen or inflamed. More often, your vulva does not look different from the usual.

When to see a doctor

If you have vulvar pain, talk with your gynecologist or other member of your health care team. If you do not have a gynecologist, could be a reference to one. A healthcare professional need to figure out if the pain has a treatable cause that is different from vulvodynia, such as:

  • An active infection of yeast or bacteria.
  • A sexually transmitted disease such as herpes.
  • An inflammatory condition of the skin.
  • The vulva of growth.
  • Genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

Some people do not realize that you have vulvodynia and try to alleviate their symptoms by yeast infection treatments over the counter. But it is the key to becoming a check-up, so a member of your health care team can give you a test, and recommend the appropriate treatment for you.

Causes

Experts do not know what causes vulvodynia. The factors that could play a role include:

  • Injury or irritation of the nerves of the vulva.
  • Past infections of the vagina.
  • Painful swelling called inflammation that affects the vulva.
  • Some genetic diseases.
  • Allergies.
  • The hormonal changes.
  • Muscle spasm or weakness in the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder, and intestines.

Complications

Without treatment, vulvodynia can affect mental health, relationships, and other aspects of your life.

The condition is related to anxiety and depression. Also tied to a lower in sexual desire, arousal and pleasure. The fear of painful intercourse can cause spasms in the muscles around the vagina, a condition called vaginismus. Intimacy issues such as these lead many people with vulvodynia to say that I feel shame, low self-esteem, negative about body image and the lack as a sexual partner.

The pain and other symptoms of vulvodynia may make it more difficult to maintain the pace of work. You may feel less social as well. And you may have trouble getting quality sleep.

Diagnosis

With vulvodynia, with your gynecologist or other member of your health care team will probably ask you questions about your medical and sexual history. You'll also be asked if you have had any type of surgery.

You might also have a:

  • Pelvic exam. Her external genitals and the vagina is checked for signs of infection or other causes of your symptoms. A sample of cells from the vagina may be taken to the test of an infection caused by fungi or bacteria. Your health care professional may also insert a gloved finger into your vagina to check the pelvic floor muscles for tenderness.
  • Cotton swab test. A moistened cotton swab is used to gently check for specific areas of pain in the vulva. If a painful area is located, you'll likely be asked how it feels and how much it hurts.
  • The biopsy. If the skin of the vulva looks different than usual, your doctor or gynecologist may remove a small tissue sample to a laboratory for verification.
  • Blood test. This may be done to check the levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Treatment

Vulvodynia treatments focus on relieving the symptoms. There is not a single treatment that works in every case. For many people, a combination of treatments that works best for you. It may take time to find the right combination. You can also take months to get relief.

Drugs

Your health care team may recommend medications, such as:

  • Antidepressants or anticonvulsants. These can help relieve long-term pain. Some types of antidepressants come in the form of creams that can be put on the skin. Local anesthetics.These strong medicines that can block the pain for a short time. For example, you could put a local anesthetic called lidocaine ointment on the vulva, 30 minutes before having sex to make it more comfortable. This medication can cause your partner to lose the feeling of a bit of time after the sexual contact. The nerve blocks.These injections are applied near a nerve or group of nerves that are sensitive to pain. These could help you if you have long-standing pain that does not respond to other treatments. Hormonal creams.If your symptoms are linked to hormonal changes, you can get relief from estrogen cream that goes into the vagina. Sometimes prescribed along with testosterone cream. Antihistamines.Often used to treat allergies, these drugs can also reduce the itching of vulvodynia. But antihistamines can be drying if you have gone through the menopause.
  • Local anesthetics. These strong medicines that can block the pain for a short time. For example, you could put a local anesthetic called lidocaine ointment on the vulva, 30 minutes before having sex to make it more comfortable. This medication can cause your partner to lose the feeling of a bit of time after the sexual contact.
  • The nerve blocks. These injections are applied near a nerve or group of nerves that are sensitive to pain. These could help you if you have long-standing pain that does not respond to other treatments.
  • Hormonal creams. If your symptoms are linked to hormonal changes, you can get relief from estrogen cream that goes into the vagina. Sometimes prescribed along with testosterone cream.
  • Antihistamines. Often used to treat allergies, these drugs can also reduce the itching of vulvodynia. But antihistamines can be drying if you have gone through the menopause.

Therapies

Physical therapy includes several techniques that can relieve the pain and improve your quality of life. These include:

  • The therapy of the pelvic floor.Many people with vulvodynia tension in the muscles of the pelvic floor, which supports the uterus, bladder, and intestines. Exercises to stretch and relax the muscles can help relieve vulvodynia pain. The physical therapist may also recommend that you use a device in the home called a vaginal dilator. This stretches and stimulates the vagina. It can also help to alleviate the fear of having pain during sex.
  • Biofeedback. This mind-body technique can help relieve the pain by teaching you how to relax your pelvic muscles. It can also teach you to control how your body responds to the symptoms.

The therapy of the pelvic floor. Many people with vulvodynia tension in the muscles of the pelvic floor, which supports the uterus, bladder, and intestines. Exercises to stretch and relax the muscles can help relieve vulvodynia pain.

The physical therapist may also recommend that you use a device in the home called a vaginal dilator. This stretches and stimulates the vagina. It can also help to alleviate the fear of having pain during sex.

Psychotherapy involves working with a therapist, who can teach you ways to deal with your pain. Examples include:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy.This technique helps to notice the negative thoughts and respond in a practical way. You'll also likely be encouraged to keep a journal of daily pain. In the journal, you will note when you have vulvodynia symptoms and they seem to do it better or worse. Sometimes, vulvodynia, the pain may be related to the conflict in a relationship or with trauma in the past. Therapy can help people work through these challenges.
  • Couple therapy or sex therapy. A therapist can teach you and your partner how to communicate better and to build intimacy in ways that takes the focus of sex. You can also learn how to alleviate the fear of pain during sex.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy. This technique helps to notice the negative thoughts and respond in a practical way. You'll also likely be encouraged to keep a journal of daily pain. In the journal, you will note when you have vulvodynia symptoms and they seem to do it better or worse.

Sometimes, vulvodynia, the pain may be related to the conflict in a relationship or with trauma in the past. Therapy can help people work through these challenges.

Surgery or other procedures

The surgery may be a treatment option if you have pain in the tissue that surrounds the opening of the vagina, called the lobby. Most of the time, surgery is performed only if other treatments have not helped.

Surgery can remove the painful portal of the tissues of the vulva. The procedure is called a vestibulectomy. If you have vulvodynia symptoms in other parts of the vulva, surgery is probably not a treatment option for you.

If you are thinking of getting this operation, ask your health care team to explain all the risks and benefits. Sometimes, surgery can lead to scarring or worse pain.

Alternative medicine

Some treatments that are not part of the standard of medical care can help reduce symptoms of vulvodynia. These include:

  • Acupuncture. A trained practitioner places very fine needles into specific parts of the body.
  • Hypnosis. A health professional will guide you in a modified state of consciousness that can help you relax and concentrate.
  • Mindfulness and meditation. You can learn these techniques through the self-instructional practice and applications.
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. A device that is placed in the skin sends low-voltage electrical currents in the painful area.

The stress tends to make the vulvodynia worse. And have vulvodynia can cause more stress. Activities that can help to relieve stress include yoga and mindfulness mediation.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Simple self-care measures can help to manage the vulvodynia symptoms.

Some tips for the job are:

  • Make yourself comfortable. If you sit a lot during the day, use the foam rubber-donut cushion.
  • Try to stand up more. This takes the pressure off the areas around the vulva.

Tips for exercise include:

  • Limit high-intensity exercise, such as running. They create friction that can irritate the vulva.
  • The use of a package of frozen gel after exercise. Wrap it in a towel and place it in your vulva up to 15 minutes to relieve the symptoms.
  • Limit activities that put pressure on the vulva, such as riding a bike or horse riding.

Tips for bathing and swimming are:

  • Gently wash. Scrub the affected area with hardness or washing too often can make the irritation worse. Instead, use plain warm or cold water to gently clean the vulva with his hand. Then dry the area. After bathing, put on a condom-free emollient, such as a plain petroleum jelly. This creates a protective barrier.
  • Stay away from products that can irritate the vulva. Do not use bubble bath, feminine hygiene products, or perfumed creams or soaps.
  • Soak in a bath seat. Two to three times a day, to sit in cold or warm water with Epsom salts or colloidal oatmeal 5 to 10 minutes. This may help to relieve the burning and irritation.
  • Avoid hot baths and hot baths. Spending time in the hot water can cause irritation and itching.
  • Swim in pools that do not have a large amount of chlorine. This group sanitizer keeps the water clean, but too much can be irritating.

Some hygiene tips are:

  • Do not use deodorant tampons or towels. The deodorant can be irritating. Instead, use the towels and tampons that are made from 100% cotton.
  • Use toilet paper soft, white and odorless.
  • Urinate before your bladder feels full. Then rinse your vulva with water and pat dry.

Some tips for the clothes and the washing of the clothes:

  • Wear loose-fitting clothing. Tight clothing limits air flow to your vulva, which can be irritating to the area. Wear 100% cotton underwear instead of nylon underwear. Try sleeping without underwear at night. Also be sure to wear loose pants and skirts. Choose the thigh or the knee-high hose in place pantyhose.
  • After a workout, the exercise of clothes right away. To remove a wet bathing suit after a swim too.
  • The use of laundry detergents made for sensitive skin. And do not use fabric softener in the underwear.
  • If your washing machine has a double or king-rinse cycle, the use of clothing that come in contact with your vulva. This helps to rinse the detergent.

If you're sexually active:

  • The use of a water-based lubricant. Before you have sex. Do not use products that contain alcohol, dyes, perfume, flavor, or heating or cooling of the ingredients.
  • Choose your birth control carefully. Please note that the spermicide or contraceptive creams can be irritating. Talk with your doctor or another member of your health care team about a form of birth control that does not irritate your vulva.
  • Urinate after having sex. This can reduce your chances of getting an infection. After urinating, rinse your vulva with cold water and pat dry.
  • Try cold packs or gel packs to relieve the burning. Wrap it in a towel and place them on your vulva for 15 minutes to an hour.

Coping and support

You may find it helpful to speak with other people who have vulvodynia. You can share information, talk about their experiences and feel less alone. If you do not want to join a support group, a member of your care team may be able to recommend a counselor in your area who has experience in helping people with vulvodynia.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary care physician. In some cases, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in conditions of the female reproductive tract, called a gynecologist.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Its symptoms, including those that do not seem to be related to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Note when the onset of symptoms.
  • Your medical history, including other condition that is being treated.
  • All the medications, vitamins, or other supplements you take, including amounts you take, called the dose.
  • Questions to ask your care team.

For vulvodynia, questions to ask your care team include:

  • What could be causing my symptoms?
  • What tests do you recommend?
  • What treatments are most likely to improve my symptoms?
  • When can I expect to get relief?
  • I have other medical conditions. How can I manage together?
  • Do you have brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Feel free to ask questions during your appointment — especially if you need more information or if you do not understand something.

What to expect from your doctor

You may be asked several questions, such as:

  • How bad is the pain, and how long it lasts? How would you describe it?
  • The pain is often triggered by a specific event, such as sex, exercise, or go to the bathroom?
  • Does your menstrual cycle affect your pain?
  • Is there anything that makes your pain better or worse?
  • You have had pelvic surgery?
  • Have you been pregnant or may be pregnant now?
  • Have you been treated for a urinary tract or vaginal infections?
Symptoms and treatment of Vulvodynia