Symptoms
Doctors don't know what causes vulvodynia, but possible contributing factors include: Injury to or irritation of the nerves surrounding your vulvar region Muscle spasm or weakness in the pelvic floor, which supports the uterus, bladder and bowel
Causes
Unfortunately, it can manifest seemingly out of nowhere, and typical vulvodynia symptoms may be intermittent, short-lived, or persistent. Vulvodynia flare-ups can happen over a period of months, and unfortunately for some, years. Vulvodynia can happen to any woman, at any time from her teen years onwards.
Prevention
However, vulvodynia and vulvar vestibulitis syndrome are more likely to happen to women who have the autoimmune conditions Sjogren's Syndrome and lupus erythematosus; fibromyalgia is also now linked vulvodynia and VVS. What causes a vulvodynia flare-up?
Complications
It's important to have your doctor rule out more easily treatable causes of vulvar pain — for instance, yeast or bacterial infections, herpes, precancerous skin conditions, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and medical problems such as diabetes.
What causes vulvodynia?
Can vulvodynia flare-ups come and go?
Is there a link between vulvodynia and fibromyalgia?
Why do I have vulvar pain?
How do you calm a vulvodynia flare up?
What else can I do to relieve the pain of vulvodynia?Avoid tight clothing and pantyhose.Wear all-cotton underwear.Use cold compresses or gel packs.Avoid exercises that put pressure on the vulva, like cycling or horseback riding.Wash the area gently with plain water.More items...•
How long does vulvodynia flare last?
It usually lasts more than 3 months and there's no known cause. Even though it's the leading cause of painful sex among women who haven't gone through menopause, it's hard to know how widespread vulvodynia is.
What can make vulvodynia worse?
The pain associated with vulvodynia is usually described as a burning, stinging, itching, irritating, or raw feeling. Sexual intercourse, walking, sitting, or exercising can make the pain worse.
Can vulvodynia have flare ups?
Pressure on your bladder and bowel can cause vulvodynia to flare up. Pee regularly instead of waiting for your bladder to be full, and rinse the vaginal area with water afterwards to clean it off.
What can be mistaken for vulvodynia?
Many cases of generalized vulvodynia and localized vulvodynia (vestibulodynia) are mistakenly attributed to yeast infection, pudendal neuralgia, and other entities. Avoid those pitfalls by using a reliable roadmap for evaluation, differentiation, and identification of the various forms of vulvar pain.
What is the best painkiller for vulvodynia?
Opioids: Pain-relieving opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, can be helpful for short-term use during vulvodynia flares. They can also be used to relieve pain early in treatment, while you gradually increase the dosage of an antidepressant or anticonvulsant to a therapeutic level.
Will I have vulvodynia forever?
Yes, vulvodynia may last a lifetime and can be severe or mild. Women suffer with the simple activities like sitting for prolonged periods or struggle with more complex issues like having pain with sex or in between periods.
How can I heal my vulvodynia naturally?
Lifestyle and home remediesTry cold compresses or gel packs. ... Soak in a sitz bath. ... Avoid tightfitting pantyhose and nylon underwear. ... Avoid hot tubs and soaking in hot baths. ... Don't use deodorant tampons or pads. ... Avoid activities that put pressure on your vulva, such as biking or horseback riding.Wash gently.More items...•
Will my vulvodynia ever go away?
Although vulvodynia can last for years, there are treatments to manage its symptoms. Vulvodynia will often go away by itself.
Can lack of estrogen cause vulvodynia?
It has thus been postulated that low estrogen levels could lead to vulvodynia and dyspareunia. The decline in estrogen levels can occur naturally or iatrogenically. The most common cause of low estrogen levels in women is menopause.
Can low estrogen cause vulvar pain?
After menopause, vaginal pain is typically the result of changes to the vagina caused by low estrogen levels. Less estrogen in the body leads to thinner, drier, and less elastic vaginal tissues. Penetrative sex may be more painful as a result of these changes, especially if you do not use lubrication.
Can high estrogen cause vulvodynia?
Eight percent of women suffer from vulvodynia, a chronic pain condition with unknown etiology. Inflammation and dysregulation of estrogen signaling have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of localized provoked vulvodynia (LPV).
What causes vulvodynia in the uterus?
Doctors don't know what causes vulvodynia, but possible contributing factors include: Injury to or irritation of the nerves surrounding your vulvar region. Muscle spasm or weakness in the pelvic floor, which supports the uterus, bladder and bowel.
Why does my vulvar hurt?
It's important to have your doctor rule out more easily treatable causes of vulvar pain — for instance, yeast or bacterial infections, herpes, precancerous skin conditions, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and medical problems such as diabetes.
How long does vulvodynia last?
Vulvodynia (vul-voe-DIN-e-uh) is chronic pain or discomfort around the opening of your vagina (vulva) for which there's no identifiable cause and which lasts at least three months.
What to do if you have a vulvar pain?
If you have pain in your genital area, discuss it with your doctor or ask for a referral to a gynecologist. It's important to have your doctor rule out more easily treatable causes of vulvar pain — for instance, yeast or bacterial infections, herpes, precancerous skin conditions, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and medical problems such as diabetes.
Can vulvodynia be treated?
If you have vulvodynia, don' t let the absence of visible signs or embarrassment about discussing the symptoms keep you from seeking help. Treatment options are available to lessen your discomfort. And your doctor might be able to determine a cause for your vulvar pain, so it's important to have an examination.
Is vulva tissue inflamed?
Vulvar tissue might look slightly inflamed or swollen. More often, your vulva appears normal. A similar condition, vestibulodynia, causes pain only when pressure is applied to the area surrounding the entrance to your vagina.
What causes vulvodynia?
We don’t know of one specific cause of vulvodynia yet, but Dr. Bahlani can narrow it down to a few suspected causes depending on a patient’s health history. Vulvodynia can be associated with:
How does vulvodynia affect my life?
It goes without saying that, more often than not, vulvodynia has a heavy impact on a woman’s quality of life. The vulvar pain itself can be intensely disruptive and stressful. Not to mention the strain on intimate relationships if you’re experiencing pain during sex, or the feeling of isolation if you feel ashamed to talk about it or seek help. Vulvodynia has also been shown to cause anxiety, depression and disturb your sleep. At Pelvic Pain Doc, we want our patients to live healthy, whole, and happy. Thankfully, Dr. Bahlani can provide the expert diagnosis and treatment to help you get there if you’re suffering from vulvodynia.
What do vulvodynia symptoms look and feel like?
It’s easy to see that pain is the most obvious symptom of vulvodynia, however, the pain experience does vary from one patient to the next. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, some women feel a burning sensation around their vagina. Others describe a raw feeling. And sometimes vulvodynia feels like the sensations you get when you have a UTI (urinary tract infection). Other symptoms of vulvodynia include:
What is vulvodynia pain?
We can define vulvodynia as a chronic pain or discomfort felt in the vulvar region that you’ve had for at least three consecutive months . Unfortunately, it has no identifying cause — like an infection or skin disorder.
What is the best medication for vulvodynia?
Oral medications – Dr. Bahlani might prescribe antidepressants or anticonvulsants which address and alleviate nerve pain. Tricyclic antidepressants are the most common type prescribed for vulvodynia and are at a much lower dosage than when treating depression on its own.
What causes pelvic pain?
These other issues include yeast or bacterial infections, herpes, precancerous skin conditions, or genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
What is the pain in the opening of the vagina called?
With the first, you feel pain in one place only, say, the opening of the vagina (called the vestibule). The majority of women who suffer from vulvodynia have this kind of pain, called vestibulodynia. Pain with localized vulvodynia, like vestibulodynia, arises during or after pressure that’s put on the vaginal opening.
What causes vulvodynia to stop?
Irritation or injury to the nerves in your vulva. Sensitive skin or allergies. Weakness or spasm of the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder, bowel, and uterus. Hormonal changes. Your vulvodynia symptoms may stop and start without any warning, or you may experience them only when touching the area.
What causes vulvar pain?
To diagnose vulvodynia, the doctor will try to rule out more common causes of vulvar pain, including: Infection (e.g., herpes, human papillomavirus, and candidiasis)
What is vulvodynia?
The cause of vulvar pain can be a specific disorder such as an infection, or it can be idiopathic (meaning there’s no known cause). Idiopathic pain in the vulva is referred to as vulvodynia.
How to treat vulvodynia pain?
Biofeedback therapy — Biofeedback therapy may provide relief from vulvodynia pain by teaching you how to relax your pelvic muscles and control your body’s response to the symptoms. Nerve blocks — Local nerve block injections may benefit people who have chronic vulvodynia that isn’t responding to other types of treatment.
How long does vulvar pain last?
Vulvodynia is diagnosed when vulvar pain persists for three months or more without any detectable cause. The doctor will describe each case of vulvodynia along the following parameters: Generalized, localized (e.g., clitorodynia and vestibulodynia), or both. Spontaneous, provoked (e.g., with contact), or both.
What is vulva pain?
Idiopathic pain in the vulva is referred to as vulvodynia. According to the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease, people with vulvodynia experience discomfort in the vulva, most often described as a burning pain. It occurs without any visible findings or a particular, clinically recognizable neurological disorder.
How to diagnose vulvodynia?
Before making a diagnosis of vulvodynia, your doctor will ask about your sexual, surgical, and medical history. They will also ask you about your symptoms to understand the nature, extent, and location of the pain.
What is Vulvodynia?
Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition of the vulva (around the opening of your vagina) characterized by pain or discomfort that lasts 3 months or longer.
How is vulvodynia diagnosed?
Vulvodynia is typically diagnosed by asking questions and a physical examination. Here are all the usual ways that vulvodynia is diagnosed:
What is the procedure to remove vulvular tissue?
Surgery: For cases of localized vulvodynia and vestibulodynia, a surgery called a vestibulectomy can remove vestibular tissue. This surgical procedure has been shown to relieve vulvar pain. Surgery is typically a last resort treatment.
What is the best treatment for vulvodynia?
Physical therapy: Physical therapy is commonly used in the treatment of vulvodynia — for strengthening pelvic floor muscles or for myofascial release. Many women with vulvodynia hold tension in their pelvic floor muscles, so exercises to relax those muscles may help with vulvar pain relief. A physical therapist may use biofeedback to improve outcomes.
What to do if vulvar pain gets worse?
If the vulvar pain gets worse over time, you should call your doctor.
How to relieve pain in the genital area?
Try cold compresses or gel packs. Place them directly on your external genital area to ease pain and itching. Don’t apply too much pressure.
What supplements can help with vulvodynia?
Consider taking a chasteberry supplement that can help regulate estrogen levels. Fluctuating hormones are a risk factor for vulvodynia.
Why is vulvodynia painful?
(3) It may be caused by one or more factors working together. (4) Some of these factors include the following: Painful tissue in the vulva due to inflammation.
What is vulvodynia?
The word vulvodynia includes two parts: vulvo + dynia. "Vulvo" refers to the vulva that stretches from the outer area of the female genitals. The vulva encompasses the external female genitalia, including:
What doctor treats vulvodynia?
Obstetricians and gynecologists generally prescribe the following treatments to relieve the pain of vulvodynia.
Can vulvodynia be intermittent?
Vulvodynia can be intermittent or ongoing. For some, the pain disappears and then flare-ups. A vulvodynia flare-up happens for different reasons, including:
Is vulvodynia a complex pain condition?
The American College of Obstetricians states that vulvodynia is a complex pain condition that's hard to diagnose. (3) It may be caused by one or more factors working together. (4) Some of these factors include the following:
What are the causes of vulvodynia?
Now, different things work for different people because there are different causes for the vulvodynia: infection, physical or chemical trauma, hormones, trapped nerve in back.
What is vulvodynia pain?
Vulvodynia literally means vulvar pain and is a condition of the nerves in that area. The nerves have become hyperactive and hypersensitive due to trauma which can be chemical or physical in source ...
