There is Help for Vaginal Pain

It’s unlikely that British philosopher Francis Bacon imagined that his phrase “knowledge is power” would find its way into the blog of a sexual dysfunction clinic centuries after he coined it. But In an interview with Scienceline, our Clinical Director, Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, recalls his words of wisdom when she says: “It breaks my …

Continue Reading

Diagnosing Dyspareunia (Addressing Painful Sex)

Dyspereunia. Admittedly, it’s not a flowery word, and it’s not a walk in the park for those who are diagnosed with it. Dyspereunia is an umbrella term that describes several types of pain that women may experience with vagianl penetration. Discomfort in the vulvar region or pain with intercourse, vaginal muscle spasms that prevent penetration …

Continue Reading

Painful Sex? Don’t Suffer in Silence

Unfortunately, many women who experience painful intercourse suffer for months, even years, before finding relief. Many women persist with having painful intercourse in silence, some not even telling their partners, because they keep hoping it will get better on its own. Often, when women do seek treatment they feel that their concerns are brushed aside, …

Continue Reading

What is Vulvodynia?

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 …

Continue Reading

Understanding Vulvodynia

If you have vaginal pain with intercourse, you may have been diagnosed with vulvodynia. And you may feel terribly confused by all the information you are getting from your doctor or from looking up the condition on line. And that’s totally understandable because the truth is that there can be some disagreement by doctors themselves …

Continue Reading

New Treatment for Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD)

I am so excited to share with you a new treatment for Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD) called low level laser therapy. PVD is defined as chronic, unexplained, vulvar pain in response to contact or pressure. This pain may be in response to non-sexual activities such as tampon insertion, or gynecologic examination. Most patients with PVD present …

Continue Reading