Chronic Vulvar Pain
Chronic Vulvar Pain Causes
The causes of the condition are not known. But certain factors contribute to the pain such as injury to or irritation of the nerves surrounding the vulvar region, past vaginal infections, allergies or a localized hypersensitivity of the skin, muscle spasms, or changing estrogen levels occurring during menopause. The condition is not sexually transmitted or a sign of cancer. Most patients have previously been treated for recurrent vaginitis or vaginal yeast infections. Others have been sexually abuse.
Chronic Vulvar Pain Definition
Chronic vulvar pain or Vulvodynia is a pain in the area around the vagina opening that lasts for months.
Chronic Vulvar Pain Diagnosis
Gynecologists evaluate the symptoms in order to rule out treatable causes of pain, such as yeast or bacterial infections, skin conditions, and medicals problems, and recommend treatments or ways to manage the pain.
Chronic Vulvar Pain Symptoms and Signs
The patient experiences constant or intermittent pain in the genital area lasting for months. Such pain may be characterized by burning, soreness, itching, stinging, rawness, painful intercourse, and throbbing. The pain may instantly vanish. The vulvar tissue may look minimally inflamed or swollen but oftentimes appears normal.
Chronic Vulvar Pain Treatment
The condition is treated to relieve the symptoms. The effectiveness of treatment vary from women to women. Affected individuals may opt for medications, biofeedback therapy, physical therapy, local anesthetics, or topical estrogen.