What is Vestibulodynia?

Vulvodynia is currently defined as "vulvar discomfort, most often described as burning pain, occurring in the absence of relevant visible findings or a specific, clinically identifiable disease". The cause of vulvodynia remains unknown, but it most likely occurs from a variety of sources and represents many different disease processes.  Possible causes include abnormalities of embryologic development, genetic and/or immunologic influences, infections, hormones, peripheral and central neuropathy (nerve damage), allergic reactions, tightness of the muscles of the pelvic floor, and nerve entrapment.

I personally suffer from Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome (Vestibulodynia) which is a subset of Vulvodynia.

Vestibulodynia is a specific type of pain that often gets bundled into the diagnosis of Vulvodynia.

Vestibulodynia is specifically pain in the vulvar vestibule

Types of Vestibulodynia:

1.      Provoked Vestibulodynia

o    Primary PVD pain that occurs the first time a woman attempts any type of vaginal penetration, like inserting a tampon or trying to have intercourse.

o    Secondary PVD is more common and involves pain that develops months or even years after a woman has had pain free vaginal penetration

2.      Hormonally Mediated

3.      Neuroproliferative- A condition in which the density of nerve ending is increased in the vestibular mucosa

o    Primary- Congenital

o    Secondary- caused by an allergic or irritant reaction

4.      Hypertonic pelvic floor dysfunction

I highly recommended reading the book “When Sex Hurts” written by Andrew Goldstein and Ian Goldstein.

This book isn’t just about pain during sex, it encompasses all the possibilities and causes of chronic pelvic pain and is a great guide to follow when trying to navigate your diagnosis.

Dr. Irwin Goldstein http://sandiegosexualmedicine.com