Vulvodynia
Symptoms & causes
Diagnosis & treatment
Doctors & departments
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Overview
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. The pain, burning or irritation associated with vulvodynia can make you so uncomfortable that sitting for long periods or having sex becomes unthinkable. The condition can last for months to years.
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.
Symptoms
Vulva
The main vulvodynia symptom is pain in your genital area, which can be characterized as:
Burning
Soreness
Stinging
Rawness
Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
Throbbing
Itching
Your pain might be constant or occasional. It might occur only when the sensitive area is touched (provoked). You might feel the pain in your entire vulvar area (generalized), or the pain might be localized to a certain area, such as the opening of your vagina (vestibule).
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.
When to see a doctor
Although women often don't mention vulvodynia to their doctors, the condition is fairly common.
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.
It's also important not to repeatedly use over-the-counter treatments for yeast infections without seeing your doctor. Once your doctor has evaluated your symptoms, he or she can recommend treatments or ways to help you manage your pain.
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Causes
Doctors don't know what causes vulvodynia, but possible contributing factors include:
Injury to or irritation of the nerves surrounding your vulvar region
Past vaginal infections
Allergies or sensitive skin
Hormonal changes
Muscle spasm or weakness in the pelvic floor, which supports the uterus, bladder and bowel
Complications
Because it can be painful and frustrating and can keep you from wanting sex, vulvodynia can cause emotional problems. For example, fear of having sex can cause spasms in the muscles around your vagina (vaginismus). Other complications might include:
Anxiety
Depression
Sleep disturbances
Sexual dysfunction
Altered body image
Relationship problems
Decreased quality of life
I have a very similar thing! So good to hear I’m not the only one! Only difference for me is I started out having spontaneous orgasm type episodes in my sleep which caused me panic attacks so I went on a diazepam before bed to stop it. I also had a yeast infection which didn’t help. I have anxiety disorder and the throbbing makes me anxious even more which just aggravates everything. I take a lorazepam dissolvable tablet when it’s really bad and it seems to relieve it a little. Please note I’m a virgin who’s only technically masterbated maybe a couple times. Not sure why this is happening to me..
I have had the same feeling, for nearly two years now. mine happened straight after a UTI that I had (it was so bad I ended up in hospital) for months after I still had a feeling of a mild UTI, I went to the doctors so many times for a test and always came back negative.
since then it is a constant tingling/throbbing feeling in that area.
I have seen a urologist who has complete a cystoscopy to ensure it was not IC (it wasn't), she gave me endep (a very very mild antidepressant to help at night & a endep cream to use external on effected area (I found that both didn't help), she suggested physio of the pelvic floor which I did (probably too half assed and need to try hard again) and the next step is talking to a sex therapist as this is taking a huge toll on my relationship.
Also noted lots of people have mentioned anxiety - which I have far too much of, but the feeling is so real - so to say it's anxiety makes me feel like I am going crazy ?!
Has anyone experienced similar thing after a UTI ? I do feel reassured knowing I'm not the only one out there so thanks everyone else for opening up.
Lenozi--this is caused by pressure on the punedal nerve causing spasms. A good physical therapist (not a sports therapist, but someone who works the more natural way, like a craniosacral and general massage therapist) should be able to relieve the pressure on the nerve and fix it. This is what happened for mine. If your back is out of alignment or you have a herniated disk that can cause it too. Either way, freeing the pinched or swollen nerve will fix it.
Lenozi--this is caused by pressure on the punedal nerve causing spasms. A good physical therapist (not a sports therapist, but someone who works the more natural way, like a craniosacral and general massage therapist) should be able to relieve the pressure on the nerve and fix it. This is what happened for mine. If your back is out of alignment or you have a herniated disk that can cause it too. Either way, freeing the pinched or swollen nerve will fix it.
Oh my I can't even begin to feel your frustration having this that long. Mine only started a week ago and I can't even function. The only relief I have is the tub and a heating pad. If I can get to sleep it is eased in the morning which makes me wonder if it is anxiety... I too have been to the doc and if it's not something easily fixed they just send you home.. i read the while thread and will try some things on here thanks everyone for posting so I know I'm not alone in this.