All About Vulval Pain
Vulval pain is also known as “vulvodynia”, and it refers to pain that occurs in the region around the vaginal opening. The pain can be so severe that women who are suffering from the condition will experience discomfort when sitting still for long hours or severe pain when having sexual intercourse. Some of the common symptoms of vulval pain include soreness, burning sensation, itchiness, rawness, throbbing, and painful intercourse.
Vulval pain can last for months or years, depending on the kind of treatment that is administered. Medical experts are unable to determine the exact causes of vulval pain, but it is believed that the condition results from irritation or injury of the vulval nerves, allergy to irritants in the environment, hypersensitivity to yeast, irritation or spasm of muscles of the pelvic floor, as well as high oxylate crystal content in urine.
Many women have noted that they experience vulval pain during pregnancy. Pregnant women are more susceptible to thrush, a form of infection that causes soreness and itchiness around the vagina, and repeated attacks of thrush can result in vulvodynia. Vulval pain in pregnant women may become less or more severe during the course of pregnancy, but it will not affect the growth and health of the baby.
Women who are suffering from vulval pain should be aware that some contraceptives may aggravate the symptoms of the condition. It is known that contraceptives such as condoms and diaphragms contain Nonoxynol-9, a spermicide that can cause irritation in the vagina and worsen vulval pain symptoms. The use of sponges can contribute to the development of thrush, which can result in vulvodynia as well.
Those who are experiencing vulval pain should seek treatment as soon as possible, because vulval pain is a symptom of a precancerous vulval skin condition called vulval intraepithelial neoplasia. This condition is characterized by the presence of lesions in the vulval region, and it can develop into vulval cancer if it is not given prompt treatment.
There are a number of ways to treat vulvodynia, and these include drugs and creams, surgery, and natural methods. Doctors usually prescribe tri-cyclic antidepressants, such as dothiepin, amitryptyline, and nortryptyline, for vulval pain patients. Usually, these drugs have to be taken on a regular basis for three to six months. Those who need lubricants to help them perform sexual intercourse can use Sensilube, Astroglide, aqueous creams, and emulsifying ointments. Surgery is only recommended for patients who have experienced vulva pain for at least six months or severe pain that prevents intercourse completely. It usually involves the excision of vulval tissue that contains vestibular glands.
Natural treatment methods for vulvodynia include exercises and low-oxalate diet. One of the most effective exercises for women who are suffering from vulva pain is pelvic muscle exercise. This exercise requires a person to tighten the rectum ring muscle as if she is controlling the release of gas or cutting off a stool. It can be done in a sitting, standing, or lying down position.
Those who need advice or assistance to help them overcome vulval pain can contact these support groups:
Disclaimer: The information provided within this site is not meant to be a substitute for a medical doctor's opinion. This site is for informational purposes ONLY. Please check with your medical practitioner before any type of treatment or prevention method is started.
Stretch Marks | About Us| Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Contact Us | Sitemap