Vulvodynia
Overview
Causes
The exact cause of vulvodynia is not known. It may be due to:
- An injury from things like an infection or an allergy
- A problem with how the body responds to pain
- Emotional or mental stress
Risk Factors
Vulvodynia is more common in women who are 20 to 40 years of age.
Other things that may raise the risk are:
- Mood or anxiety disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder
- Sleep problems
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
The main symptom is vulvar pain that lasts more than three months.
A woman may have:
- Burning
- Stinging
- Soreness
- Aching
- Pain after pressure is applied to the vaginal opening
- Pain with sex or inserting tampons
Treatments
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to ease pain. Options are:
Supportive care may include using:
- Mild soaps
- Cold packs
- Lubricants during sex
Medicine may be given, such as:
- Topical medicines that are put on the skin, such as corticosteroids, estrogen, or anesthetics
- Antidepressants
- Antiseizure medicine
Physical therapy may be needed to help strengthen and relax the pelvic muscles to ease pain.
Mental health counseling may also be needed to learn new ways to cope with pain.
Procedures may include:
- Botulinum toxin injections
- Nerve stimulation
- Surgery to remove painful tissue
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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