What is Vulvodynia?
Vulvodynia is the term used to describe women who experience the sensation of vulval burning and soreness in the absence of any obvious skin condition or infection, usually as a consequence of irritation or hypersensitivity of the nerve fibres in the vulval skin. The sensation of burning and soreness of the vulva can be continuous (unprovoked vulvodynia) or on light touch to the vestibule (entrance to the vagina) e.g. from sexual intercourse or tampon use (provoked vulvodynia or vestibulodynia). Many women have symptoms which overlap between both conditions.
Symptoms
The main symptom of persistent pain in and around the vulva and vagina can vary from mild discomfort to a severe constant pain which can prevent sitting down comfortably and have a detrimental effect on day-to-day functioning – sleeping, working and sexual intercourse. Itching is not usually a feature of the condition.
The pain may be:
- burning, stinging, throbbing or sore
- triggered by touch, such as during sex or when inserting a tampon
- constantly in the background
- worse when sitting down
Causes
It is likely that a number of factors
cause vestibulodynia, but often no identifiable cause can be found. Some women
have a sudden onset of symptoms following a specific event; commonly a severe
attack of thrush followed by topical anti-thrush treatment, or after giving
birth. For a minority of women with vulvodynia, back problems such as slipped
discs can cause spinal nerve compression and cause referred pain to the vulval
area.
Can you pass Vulvodynia on?
Vulvodynia is not a sexually
transmitted infection and cannot be passed on to a partner. It is not a form of
vaginismus (involuntary tightening of the vaginal muscles), though vaginismus
can develop as a response to pain. It is a medically-recognised physical
condition and does not have a psychological cause. The symptoms of vulvodynia
are often mistaken for thrush and repeated use of topical anti-thrush
treatments can make the condition worse.
What
can cause flare-ups?
Vulvodynia can be provoked or unprovoked. In
provoked vulvodynia the vestibule (vaginal opening) is the most frequently
affected site of provoked vulvodynia. The pain is provoked by sexual or non
sexual touch on the vestibule, such as: sexual intercourse (dyspareunia),
inserting tampons, tight clothing or cycling. With unprovoked vulvodynia pain
is not triggered by external factors.
Treatment
Treatment is usually a combination of
a number of options including, strong steroid ointments, emollients , local anaesthetic
creams, psychosexual counselling, pelvic floor physiotherapy and rarely
surgery.
How DermaSilk can help?
DermaSilk can help all women stay
healthy, but is particularly useful in managing some of the common health
conditions that can severely disrupt women’s lives, often causing physical (and
emotional) upset, irritation and pain. The range is proven in clinical trials
to significantly reduce the symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus and Recurrent
Candidosis (Thrush) and to reduce the frequency of candida recurrences.
DermaSilk may also be of benefit in
the management of Vulvodynia and Bacterial Vaginosis, the menopause and other
women’s health issues.
A recent clinical study, observing women with vulval discomfort as a result of skin conditions, infections or non-specific vulval pain, showed that at least two-thirds experienced an improvement in social activities, sleeping and sexual relationships through wearing DermaSilk over a four-week period. All participants in the study commented that our briefs had helped their condition. Compared to baseline, the scores for pain, burning and irritation were reduced by an average of 75%, 63% and 65% respectively over the four week period.
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