If you are planning to start your family and discover that having sex is not the pleasurable experience you had anticipated, you are not alone. Everyone recognizes that infertility is a common reason to have difficulty starting a family, however not many women are courageous enough to admit that the act of intercourse may be stopping them from being able to get pregnant.
There are several reasons why sex can hurt. Finding an accurate diagnosis is going to be important for you so that you can not only conceive your baby but enjoy love-making. Keep in mind that vulvodynia is only one reason for why sex can hurt so be sure to follow-up with your care provider to get an accurate diagnosis.
What is Vulvodynia?
This term vulvodynia refers to chronic pain or discomfort in the vulva; specifically sensations of burning, stinging, irritation or rawness in the absence of any infection or skin disease. As many as 14 million women have vulvodynia at some point in their lives, yet this condition often goes undiagnosed.
Causes of Vulvodynia
Experts do not know the exact cause but speculate that vulvodynia could have a number of causes. One suspected cause is that vulvodynia may be a result from injury to the nerves that serve the vulva. It is also possible that vulvodynia may be caused by an abnormal response to cells from environmental factors such as trauma or infection. Vulvodynia may have its roots in various genetic factors or it might result from sensitivity to candida. Some experts also think that pelvic organ muscles spasms might be also be a cause of vulvadynia.
What experts have discovered is that the painful area of the vulva can contain as many as 30 times the normal number of nerve endings as compared to other cell tissue, which is one reason for why the woman perceives the sensation of pressure as quickly followed by the sensation of pain.
Diagnosing Vulvodynia
Your care provider will be able to diagnose vulvodynia by using a Q-tip to apply pressure in various places in the vulvar region and vestibule (the tissue just outside your vagina) to assess the level of sensitivity in certain areas. (Be sure you are seeing a medical professional who is trained to diagnose this condition.) If the care provider applies slight pressure with a Q-tip and you feel pain followed by burning or stinging, you may be diagnosed with one of the two types of vulvodynia.
Types of Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia is divided into two categories:
Generalized vulvodynia which can be felt in different areas (such as the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, publis, perineum or inner thighs) and at different times. The pain may be constant or intermittent and symptoms are not necessarily caused by pressure or touch. Activities such as bicycling or intercourse can worsen the symptoms of generalized vulvodynia.
Vulvar Vestibulitis or vestibulodynia is when women have only pain in the vestibule (which is the tissue just outside the vagina opening). Burning is the most common symptom of vestibulitis and occurs with touch or pressure during any of the following: tampon insertion, intercourse, bicycling, wearing tight pants, or a gynecological exam.
Treatment for Vulvodynia
While there is no cure that works for everyone, treatment options for vulvodynia include topical anesthetics such as lidocaine, physical therapy, nerve blocks, certain anti-depressants such as amtriptyline or surgery.
Many women report good success using one or more of these treatment options for vulvodynia so there is hope if you are finding that having sex is painful enough to make it hard to start a family. Remember that there are many reasons why sex can hurt, so be sure to seek out a trained medical professional who is familiar with issues of vulvodynia for an accurate diagnosis.
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