To put it simply, vulvodynia is chronic pain in the vulva. This pain can feel like an itching, burning, throbbing, or aching sensation. The pain is generally unexplained and could be due to a number of factors: hypersensitivity to yeast infections, muscle spasms, hormonal changes, nerve damage, repeated use of antibiotics, or psychological damage due to sexual abuse or trauma. There are two known types of vulvodynia, including:
- Generalized vulvodynia: This type of vulvodynia is not necessarily caused by touch or intercourse. It can occur in different parts of the vulva and may be constant and frequent or inconsistent and rare.
- Vulvar vestibulitis: This type of vulvodynia is pain at the entrance to the vagina. This pain begins during intercourse or touch.
Since there is very little know about vulvodynia, the estimated 14 million women who suffer from it generally have to do so without treatment or relief. Indeed, these women often find that their pain is dismissed by their doctors. This truly adds insult to injury - not only do these women not receive treatment, they are also told that the pain is all in their head!
Thankfully, vulvodynia is becoming more widely talked about and understood. In fact, the Grey's Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice, recently featured a woman suffering from vulvodynia - though once again, she was quickly given a simple cure and sent on her way. Women suffering from vulvodynia know that it is not so simple - vulvodynia is a chronic condition for which no cure is known.
However, there are ways to treat it. First, women can be pro-active about their own self-care. Douching, feminine deodorants, perfumed tampons or pads, and chlorinated water can all make vulvodynia symptoms intensify. Any activities that put direct pressure on the vulva, such as bicycle riding and horseback riding, should be avoided. Soaking in lukewarm baths and applying cold packs to the area after intercourse can all help lessen vulvar pain.
There are many different types of medications being used to treat vulvodynia, including nerve blockers, antidepressants, estrogen creams, and localized local anesthetics - but it is important to realize that while numbing agents take away vulvar pain, they also take away the nerve sensations that make sex so pleasurable.
For more information about vulvodynia, you can visit the Office of Research on Women's Health at http://orwh.od.nih.gov/health/vulvodynia.html
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