Introduction and description
Vulvodynia vulvar pain is the term used for pain in the vulva. The pain is generally depicted as burning sensation, sting, itching sensation, irritation or something like harsh feeling. Vulvodynia is commonly seen in women having fair complex and it is rare in women of other races. It differs from itching or vulvar pruritus.
Vulvodynia in reality precludes itching since the burning and tenderness cause an intolerance to scratch. This condition is because of vulval burning and soreness generally as an effect of irritation or hypersensitivities of the nerve fibers in the skin of the vulva. The condition is one of exclusions and the disease of some differential diagnosis required to be considered.
Causes of Vulvodynia
Some common causes and risk factors include the following:
Though the real cause of vulvodynia is yet not known; it might be because of the result of multiple factors.
The diseases can be caused due to frequent yeast infections.
Any kind of injury to or irritation of the nerves that surround the vulva region can result into the disease.
Any kind of chemical irritation of the external genitals (from soaps or detergents in clothing) can give rise to this disease.
Vulvodynia can also be caused because of allergies or any localized hypersensitivities of the skin.
One of the causes for this condition is to have past or present genital warts.
Some of the health experts believe that high levels of oxalate crystals in the urine (oxalate is a kind of salt of oxalic acid that is a powder derived from certain plants like as the spinach); the crystals get occupied in the vulva tissues, causing pains.
Some more information on Vulvodynia
The pain might be generalized or localized in the vulvar area. Burning sensation is the most common, but the type and worsening of symptoms are highly personalized. In most of the women with such condition, the appearance of the vulva is quite okay since the problem beds the nerve fibers those ca not be seen. Although the pain might be felt inside is actually on the outer side. It can also make one upset or stressed. It may even cause problems in individual’s relationships with the spouse or partner.
Some cases of vulvodynia might be because of the compression or disease of the pudendal nerve, one of the main nerves relaying sensations to and from the genital areas. There are many reasons vulvodynia might be underreported. In most of the cases, the vulvar pain then turns to chronic problems that vary in duration from months to years. It might be partly because of the absence of visible signs of vulvodynia or it might be the indisposition of many women talking about their symptoms. It generally starts all of a sudden and might last for months to years.
Although the condition is not life-threatening and the pain might make one cut back on some of the routine activities. Once the rashes of shingles have disappeared, the areas of skin where the rashes are intensely painful and sore in spite of the skin appearing normal then the condition is termed as post-hepatic neuralgia. Most women with vulvodynia might have gone to many physicians either with faulty diagnoses or inadequate treatments.
Symptoms of Vulvodynia
Some of the common symptoms of Vulvodynia are as follows:
Pain occurring in the vulva region
There might be severe point tenderness on touching (medically carried out with something called as positive cotton swab test) and Erythema.
There would be burning sensation along with stinging and irritation. There is also aching or harshness of the genital area.
The pain might also be felt surrounding the urethra, the back passage, the tips of the legs and somewhere near thighs.
The tissues of Vulva might look somewhat inflamed or swollen.
Treatment of Vulvodynia
The treatment can be done using medications like lidocaine since it provides temporary relief from the pains. One can also taking the drug called amitriptyline (most genral in use as an anti-depressant but is also used for treating various body pains) has been considered to be the most effective treatment for vulvodynia.
Something called biofeedback therapy can also help to reduce tenderness or pain by making you aware of how to control specific body reactions. Some types of vulva pains get better with the usage of some special lotions or pills formulated to treat yeast infections.
Other treatments that might help healing the conditions include interferon injections and/or laser therapy. The surgery is another option for some of the women but only when rest of the treatments does not give satisfactory relief. However, there are two kinds of surgery available: scalpel and laser.
