Vaginal Pain or Discomfort: When to Seek Help
Vaginal Pain or Discomfort: When to Seek Help
“If you have vaginal pain don’t let embarrassment, or the absence of visible signs, stop you from seeking help. Now more than ever, multiple treatment options are available to help ameliorate or stop your pain. Also, as an experienced Pain Specialist may be able to determine the root cause of your vulvar pain, & as early intervention & treatment could reduce the risk of complications & pain, it’s advisable to book an examination as soon as you can”
Vaginal discomfort and pain (ranging from mild to severe), is not so uncommon, and countless women around the world experience it at some time or another. This scenario can be brought on by various different abnormalities, and the specific symptoms depend on the root cause. Moreover, the discomfort and pain might only affect the vagina region; or it could present in the cervix or pelvis [1].
Consult a Pain Specialist if you have any of the following vaginal symptoms:
- Itching
- Soreness
- Stinging
- Burning
- Rawness
- Throbbing
- Experiencing pain while having sexual intercourse
- Abnormal vaginal discharge (when your discharge smells or looks unusual) [1].
Conditions Which Cause Pain
Whist vaginal pain can be due to a number of underlying causes, the most common reason is down to an infection such as chlamydia, gonorrhea or a yeast infection. Other conditions include:
- Vulvar vestibulitis, which is linked to a highly localised cutting/burning pain
- Post menopausal vulvovaginal atrophy (the inflammation, drying and thinning of the vaginal walls) brought about by a decrease in the hormone oestrogen
- Trauma due to giving birth
- Trauma from sexual intercourse
- Complications due to medical procedures
- Vulvovaginal atrophy (the thinning, drying, and inflammation of vaginal walls) due to a drop of oestrogen following menopause
Seeking Help From a Pain Specialist
“It’s important to have your [Pain Specialist] rule out more easily treatable causes of vulvar pain — for instance, yeast or bacterial infections, herpes, precancerous skin conditions, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, & medical problems such as diabetes” [1]
It is a good idea to keep a “Pain Dairy.” This acts as a detailed record of any vaginal pain symptoms that you may experience. It is highly beneficial to your Pain Specialist, as it will enable him/her to make a diagnosis more quickly, and allow them to work out a personalised treatment plan to get you feeling better as soon as possible.
“If you have been experiencing recurring & persistent vaginal pain, the Vulva Clinic is here for you”
After giving you a thorough examination, your Pain Specialist may undertake one or more diagnostic tests in order to ascertain the root cause of your pain. Our experts at the Vulva Pain Clinic are ready to give you the best possible diagnostic care, along with a plethora of options from traditional and cutting-edge pain management solutions. We will explain everything to you in layman’s terms, and welcome any questions.
References
[1]. Mayo Clinic (2020). “Vulvodynia”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vulvodynia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353423