What is Vulvodynia?

Approximately 16% of all women experience the feeling of burning irritation and rawness that is the hallmark of vulvodynia.  For some those symptoms are only triggered by intercourse or pelvic examinations.  For others, the symptoms can be episodic or continuous and occur spontaneously.  There are many causes for the vulvar pain disorder that we call vulvodynia, but it is clear that the majority of patients have a problem with peripheral nerve hypersensitivity that is also associated with a problem of high tone pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic floor myalgia.  It is not surprising that anyone with the constant feeling of irritation will develop tightness in their pelvic muscles with associated pain and dysfunction.  However, it is now well understood that other pain disorders such as interstitial cystitis, endometriosis or irritable bowel syndrome can often result in the development of vulvar symptoms.  In fact, the majority of patients have multiple pain generators.  Unless carefully evaluated and managed by a specialist in vulvar pain disorders patients will often become frustrated with multiple therapies that simply do not work.  Like with most of our pelvic pain disorders benefit is seen when a multimodal approach is used under the direction of a pelvic floor specialist.