“Vulvodynia is the medical term for chronic pain
or discomfort in the vulva
that lasts for at least three months”.¹

Umbrella

What may the Vulvodynia Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

Vulva

What is the vulva?

DotS the definition of the vulva may vary. In Vulval Irritation the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s (JH) definition is:

“Your vulva is the external part of your female genitals that you can see. Your vagina is inside your body”.²

Vulval Pain

What is vulval pain?

DotS the definition of vulval pain may vary. In Medical Advice: Vulval Pain – What Is Vulvodynia? Caredownthere.com.au explain:

Vulvodynia

What is vulvodynia?

DotS the definition of the vulvodynia may vary. In Vulvodynia (Vulval Pain) the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“Vulvodynia is pain in the vulva (area around the outside of the vagina) that lasts at least 3 months and does not have a specific cause. It can have a big effect on your life, but there are treatments that can help”.⁴

In Vulval Pain: Vulvodynia the JH’s definition is:

“Vulvodynia is the medical term for chronic pain or discomfort in the vulva that lasts for at least three months. Any pressure applied to your vulva, such as having sex, inserting a tampon, using toilet paper or sitting for prolonged periods of time can be unbearable”.⁵

In What Is Vulvodynia? [+ Diagrams] the (United States) National Vulvodynia Association’s (NVA) definition is:

“Vulvodynia, simply put, is chronic vulvar pain without an identifiable cause. The location, constancy and severity of the pain vary among sufferers. Some women experience pain in only one area of the vulva, while others experience pain in multiple areas. The most commonly reported symptom is burning, but women’s descriptions of the pain vary. One woman reported her pain felt like “acid being poured on my skin,” while another described it as “constant knife-like pain””.⁶

In Vulvodynia the (United Kingdom) Vulval Pain Society’s (VPS) definition is:

“Vulvodynia is the term used to describe the condition experienced by women who have the sensation of vulval burning and soreness in the absence of any obvious skin condition or infection. The sensation of burning and soreness of the vulva can be continuous (unprovoked vulvodynia), or on light touch, e.g. from sexual intercourse or tampon use (provoked vulvodynia)”.⁷

Localised Vulvodynia

What is localised vulvodynia?

DotS the definition of localised vulvodynia may vary. In What Is Vulvodynia? What Is Localised Vulvodynia? [+ Diagrams] the NVA’s definition is:

“Most women have pain at only one vulvar site. If the pain is in the vestibule, the tissue surrounding the vaginal opening, the diagnosis is vestibulodynia (formerly known as vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS))”.⁸

Provoked Vulvodynia (Vestibulodynia)

What is provoked vulvodynia?

DotS the definition of provoked vulvodynia may vary. In What Is Vulvodynia? What Is Localized Vulvodynia? [+ Diagrams]  the NVA explain:

Unprovoked Vulvodynia

What may the pain be like in unprovoked vulvodynia?

In Vulvodynia: What Are the Symptoms? the VPS elaborate on:

“The pain described by women with unprovoked vulvodynia is often of a burning, aching nature. The intensity of pain can vary from mild discomfort to a severe constant pain which can even prevent you from sitting down comfortably. The pain is usually continuous and can interfere with sleep. As with long-term pain from any cause you can have good days and bad days. Itching is not usually a feature of the condition”.¹⁰

The VPS also note:

Generalized Vulvodynia

What is generalized vulvodynia?

DotS the definition of generalized vulvodynia may vary. In What Is Vulvodynia? What Is Generalized Vulvodynia? [+ Diagrams] the NVA’s definition is:

Duration

How long may vulvodynia symptoms last?

In Vulvodynia: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“The pain, burning or irritation linked with vulvodynia can make you so uncomfortable that sitting for a long time or having sex becomes unthinkable. The condition can last for months to years”.¹³

Cause

What causes vulvodynia?

In Vulvodynia: What Causes It? the VPS explain:

“For a minority of women with vulvodynia, back problems such as slipped discs and others can cause spinal nerve compression and cause referred pain to the vulval area. In the majority of cases, however, the precise cause of the nerve damage or irritation remains unknown. Vulvodynia is known as an idiopathic condition, i.e. a condition with no known cause”.¹⁴

In Vulvodynia: Symptoms and Causes – What Causes Vulvodynia? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic also note:

Common or Not

How common is vulvodynia?

In Vulval Pain: Vulvodynia the JH note:

“Vulvodynia can affect women of all ages, but it usually affects women from their mid-20s to 60s. It’s estimated about 16% of women will experience vulvodynia in their lifetime”.¹⁶

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have vulvodynia?

If you think you have vulvodynia, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The Mayo Clinic explain:

In Vulvodynia: Frequently Asked Questions – A Note From Cleveland Clinic the Cleveland Clinic also encourage us to seek help:

Health Topics A-Z

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Links

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Sources

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