Vulvodynia is the word for pain in the vulva. The vulva is the external genital area in women--the area around the opening to the vagina. The pain is usually described as a burning, stinging, itching, irritating or a raw feeling. Sexual intercourse, walking, sitting or exercising can make the pain worse.

Vulvodynia is more common in white women. It's rare in women of other races. It usually starts suddenly and may last for months to years. Although it isn't life-threatening, the pain may make you cut back on some of your normal activities. It can also make you upset or depressed. It might even cause problems in your relationship with your spouse or 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

Sings and Symptoms of Vulvodynia

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

Itching.
Stinging.
Rawness.
Painful intercourse (dyspareunia).
Throbbing.
Soreness.
burning.

Treatment and cure of Vulvodynia

Biofeedback Therapy - This therapy can help reduce pain by teaching you how to control specific body responses. The goal of biofeedback is to help you enter a relaxed state in order to decrease pain sensation. To cope with vulvodynia, biofeedback can teach you to relax your pelvic muscles, which can sometimes contract in anticipation of pain and actually cause chronic pain itself.

Medications - Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) can help lessen chronic pain. This type of antidepressant may work better than some of the other types of antidepressants, such as Prozac or Zoloft, for this condition. Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and gabapentin (Neurontin) also may lessen the pain of vulvodynia. Antihistamines such as hydroxyzine can reduce itching.

Sitz Baths - Bathing the area around your external genitals and buttocks in a saline solution can sometimes help make you feel better, but it also has the potential to aggravate your discomfort.

Local Anesthetics - Using medications such as lidocaine can provide temporary relief from the pain.

Topical Creams - Creams that contain estrogen or cortisone can help alleviate the pain.

Prevention Tips for Vulvodynia

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.

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