Women with vulvodynia experience chronic pain in the vulva area for no apparent and explainable reason. Until recently, vulvodynia was not recognized as an actual pain syndrome. The diagnosis is still rare, despite the fact that many women complain of vulvodynia. The medical scientific community is currently searching for the causes of the condition and methods for its successful treatment. Types of vulvodynia The condition affects a woman’s external genitalia – labia and clitoris. Pain is also observed during penetration into the vagina. There are two types of vulvodynia: Presence of pain in different areas of the vulva is described in general vulvodynia. The pain may be constant or it may come in periods. Its appearance does not depend on touch or pressure, but they usually intensify it. In the second type of vulvodynia, pain is observed at the opening of the vagina. Women complain of severe burning. The pain appears after touch, pressure and tension, most often during coitus. What are the suspected causes of vulvodynia? At this stage, there is no reason to believe that the condition is due to infections, such as sexually transmitted diseases. The more likely causes, according to experts, are: nerve damage or irritation, an abnormal response by the cells of the vulva to infection or trauma, genetic factors that determine the sensitivity of the vulva to chronic inflammatory diseases, hypersensitivity to fungal infections, muscle spasms, allergy or intolerance to chemical substances or other substances, hormonal changes, trauma – including experienced sexual violence, as well as excessive sex, frequent antibiotic therapy. Which women suffer from vulvodynia? age and after menopause. There is no consensus on the exact number of women with vulvodynia, with estimates ranging from 200,000 to 6 million. The condition is believed to be more typical of Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic women. Physical and Emotional Prerequisites Vulvodynia should not be treated with disdain, as it is a condition that deeply reflects on a woman’s quality of life. . The affected person is unable to have sex, play sports, which affects all aspects of her life, social contacts and even her work. According to a study by the US National Institutes of Health, most women with vulvodynia are unable to to control themselves emotionally, have no sex life and are unable to enjoy life. Because of the pain, these women cannot create a lasting relationship or have one at all, which reflects on their image in the environment and becomes the cause of a chronic depressive state. Signs and symptoms of vulvodynia In most cases, the symptoms begin suddenly. Most often described: burning, burning or strong redness of the vulva, pain, irritation/strong sensitivity or throbbing, numbness of the tissues of the vulva, itching.Burning pain is the most common symptom of vulvodynia. Some women describe it as a pain similar to cutting or burning with acid. In most cases, the condition of the vulva appears normal, but although rarely it is possible to observe swelling or redness similar to inflammation. Symptoms vary from woman to woman. Usually, activities such as riding a bicycle, inserting a tampon, or sitting make the condition worse. It is possible that the pain appears during physical activity and even walking, to cover the entire vulva or only a certain part of it. In continuation: therapy for vulvodynia