Vulvodynia is an unexplained pain at the vaginal opening for greater than 3 months. Other terms are vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, or vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.
Some studies show that as any as 16% of women have suffered from vulvodynia at some point in their lives, but it is difficult to estimate, because many women don’t report their symptoms or are misdiagnosed. Vulvodynia can happen for many reasons. Seeing a provider experienced in the diagnosis of vulvodynia can help figure out if it is hormonally-mediated, dermatological or due to neurological issues, and help to develop an effective treatment plan. There are many treatment options from hormonal creams, numbing creams, low-dose tricyclic antidepressants, physical therapy, laser therapy, and surgery. No one treatment is effective for everybody, but an experienced provider will help to figure out what is best for you to keep your symptoms under control.
If you’re suffering from vulvar pain, contact us for a free phone consultation.