Disorders of the Vulva: Common Causes of Vulvar Pain

Countless women experience pain in their vulva at some stage in their lives. When the pain is prevalent for over 3 months, & there is no apparent cause, it’s called Vulvodynia. This three month period is the time when you should make an immediate appointment to visit an Experience Vulva Pain Specialist. – That way, you can receive an accurate diagnosis, and get started on a Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan as soon as possible

“It’s estimated that 16% of women will have Vulvodynia at some point in their lives. Vulvodynia can occur at any age, but recent research has found that women between the ages of 20 & 40 years are most likely to experience it” [1]

The Four Main Categories of Vulva Pain

Generalized Vulvodynia

This condition begins spontaneously, and relates to widespread pain within the vulva area. – This pain can last anywhere between a few months to many years [1].

Localised Vulvodynia

This refers to pain in specific areas of the vulva, such as the vagina folds (sometimes referred to as the lips). This localised pain is not always constant, and can disappear and reappear for no apparent reason [1].

Cyclic Vulvitis

This form of vulvar pain fluctuates according to the sufferer’s menstrual cycle. In the majority of instances, the pain is at its worse just prior to the start of a period [1].

Vestibulodynia

This category of pain is experienced at the vestibule (opening) of the vagina [1].

So What’s Behind My Vulva Pain?

The vulvar tissue often looks healthy & normal in people with vulvar pain. At the present time, Vulvar pain isn’t well understood. However, it’s not contagious, nor is it spread via having sex. It’s also not a sign of cancer” [1]

Possible links to experiencing vulva pain include:

• Recurring yeast infections
• Suffering from allergies
• Undergoing hormone therapy
• Genetic disorders. For example, certain genetic issues can make the cells overreact to hormones or inflammation. The latter swells the body’s tissues, and makes the vulva region feel sore and hot
• A history of sexual or physical trauma, which for example, can damage the nerve endings in the vulva region
• Long-term pain conditions. Vulvodynia sufferers could be: “2 to 3 times more likely to have chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. Both of these are inflammatory diseases, so this type of vulvodynia may be related to inflammation as well” [1].

Reference

[1]. Christiano, D. (2019). “Vulvar Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and More.” Healthline.
HYPERLINK “https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/vulvar-