Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia is a skin disease that is the pain in around genital area in female.

This disease affects mostly women with fair complexion.

They feel stinging, irritating, depressing, itching or burning.

In this disease, patients feel for a long term.

This disease creates a problem in relationship between you and your partner.

Causes of Vulvodynia:

• Use of antibiotic medicines
• Allergy to chemicals
• Skin rashes on the genital area
• Genital warts
• Chemical irritation from detergents in clothes.
• Surgery and laser treatments of genitals

Signs and symptoms of Vulvodynia

Severe pain the genital area is the main symptom of this disease that can be characterized by the following:

• Itching
• Rawness
• Throbbing
• Burning
• Stinging
• Soreness
• Painful intercourse

Diagnosis:

Health care providers take biopsy test for diagnosis of Vulvodynia. Pelvic exam and tests are recommended to check for yeast and bacteria. Doctor will recommend having a biopsy or colposcopy, if pelvic exam and tests to check for yeast and bacteria are not normal.

Special magnifying glass is used in Colposcopy exam. In case of biopsy painkiller is given to numb the genital area and the doctor makes use of microscope to look at the sample of tissue taken.

When to seek medical advice

If one feels any signs and symptoms of Vulvodynia, call the health care provider as soon as possible. It is very necessary to have a health care providers who play main role to treat bacterial or yeast infections and any other health problems like liver problems, diabetes or kidney problems.

Treatment:

Presently there is no cure for this disease. There are many treatments, which depend on the different cause of this disease. Apply creams or pills to the genital area to treat yeast infection. Use creams, which contain cortisone or estrogen, to reduce the pain. Don’t use cortisone cream for a long period.

Sometimes antidepressant medicines may helpful to remove irritation and pain. Other treatments such as surgery, interferon injections and laser therapy may help to reduce this disease.

If you want to try these treatments, see a therapist who is trained in these treatments. You can learn exercise at home to relieve from pelvic muscles.

Other treatments include:

• Anesthetics
• Pelvic floor therapy
• Balanced diet
• Anticonvulsants
• Physical therapy with biofeedback
• Calcium citrate
• Fluconazole

Prevention:

• Avoid use of soap on the affected area. Wash off with lukewarm water. Use of petroleum jelly, bath oils, creams, bubble baths or sprays are not good. Don’t use shampoo on the genital area.
• Avoid wearing tight clothing and wear only loose clothing and cotton underwear and inner.
• Avoid contraceptive creams and devices; they may irritate the genital area.
• Wash the genital area under the running clean water.
• Use only cotton and white toilet tissue.
• Avoid sitting in a wet swimsuit for a long period.