MamasHealth.com Home Women's Health Adenomyosis Atrophic vaginitis Bartholin's abscess Cervical dysplasia Cervical polyps Cervictis Depo provera Domestic violence Endometrial hyperplasia Endometrial polyps Endometriosis Escape an attacker Folic acid Finding time for sex Hormone therapy Alternatives How to be a better mom HPV scare Important health tests Labial reduction surgery Menorrhagia Menopause Menstrual cramps Midlife checklist Mittelschmerz Moms need friends too Ovarian cysts Painful sex Pelvic exams PID PMS Polycystic ovarian Preeclampsia Pregnancy Salpingitis Toxic shock syndrome 1 Toxic shock syndrome 2 Urinary incontinence Urinary tract infection Uterine bleeding Uterine fibroids Vaginal cysts Vaginal dryness Vaginal rejuvenation Vaginal warts Vaginismus Vaginitis Vulvar dystrophy Vulvitis Vulvodynia Women & calcium Women & medicine Women & heart Disease Yeast infections Links Email Mama Tips to get him in the mood Why women should care about prostate cancer Donating your eggs Help for rape victims Stay at home moms Women and calcium 9 things women should know about men Shy girls guide to flirting	What is Vulvodynia? Vulvodynia means painful vulva. The vulva is the external female genitals, including the clitoris and labia. It includes the mound of tissues over the pelvic bone that becomes covered with hair at puberty. Vulvodynia can last for days, months or years. It can be constant, intermittent, localized or widespread. Vulvodynia can vanish as suddenly as it started. It is not a life threatening condition. Symptoms of Vulvodynia The most common symptoms of vulvodynia are: burning or stinging vulva irritation, itching of the vulva rawness in the vulvar area What Causes Vulvodynia? The exact cause of vulvodynia is unknown. However, physicians speculate that it may be caused by the following: an injury or irritation of the nerves that supply and receive input from the vulva a localized hypersensitivity to yeast an allergic response to environmental irritants high levels of oxalate crystals in the urine spasm and/or irritation of the pelvic floor muscles There is no evidence that vulvodynia is caused by infection or that it is a sexually transmitted disease How is Vulvodynia diagnosed? Vulvodynia is difficult to diagnose. The most important part of the diagnosis is to rule out STDs and infections. Sometimes, vulvodynia may have not visible signs and the pain may come and go. Can Vulvodynia be treated? Vulvodynia can be treated . The treatment will focus on relieving symptoms. Medication may be prescribed. Application of cool compresses to the genital area may help improve symptoms.
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