The painful condition that's ruining the sex lives of thousands of women: Undiagnosed problem leaves some unable to wear underwear or even sit down
If you have pain in your vulva, you're not alone. Around 16 per cent of women will have vulvar pain lasting longer than three months.
They aren't neurotic or promiscuous. It's likely they are suffering from a condition called vulvodynia.
Only people with a vulva can develop vulvodynia, but that's where the discrimination stops.
The
condition occurs in women of all ages and ethnicities, regardless of
education, skin type, sexual preference or relationship status.
The pain can be brutal and is commonly described as stabbing, burning or knife-like.
It
might happen only when the vulva is provoked, as when it's touched by
clothing or attempted penetration, or it can be constant. Not
surprisingly, vulvodynia can severely impact a woman's quality of life.
WHAT IS VULVODYNIA?
About half of our species has a vulva, yet surprisingly few know what, or where, it is.
The
vulva refers to the external genitalia of females: the clitoris, labia,
vaginal opening and Bartholin's glands, which provide the natural
lubricant for the vagina.
It has a rich supply of specialised nerves and gives pleasure when properly stimulated.
The
vulva doesn't extend to the vagina itself, which, contrary to common
parlance and high-profile art exhibitions, is on the inside, not the
outside.
Putting
'-dynia' on the end of a word refers to pain. Vulva means, well, vulva.
So vulvodynia literally means 'painful vulva'. If you have pain in your
vulva anywhere from your clitoris to your anus and labia to very inner
thigh, and there is no clear injury or ongoing infection, then you have
vulvodynia.
Three
out of every 20 women will develop vulvodynia at some point and the
cost can be profound. Sufferers often struggle to wear underwear, sit
down or use tampons.
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