Vulvodynia


Vulvodynia is a condition of the vulva that affects approximately 12-15% of women. It manifests itself with pain, dyspareunia, burning, redness, irritation, sense of swelling. With the exception of redness, there are no other obvious signs, therefore before making a diagnosis of vulvodynia, the specialist excludes other possible causes of the symptoms (e.g. infections, skin dermatitis, neoplasms, etc.) with visits and adequate tests. The disorder has usually been present for at least three months.

Pain is the key symptom and can range from mild to intense, can be constant or intermittent, widespread or localized.

The cause that determines the development of vulvodynia is not clear.

There are some associated factors that contribute to the onset and maintenance of vulvodynia: recurrent infections, iatrogenic trauma, hypercontractility of the vulvo-perineal muscles, neuropathy of the pudendal nerve. Over time, if the pathology is not identified and appropriately treated, damage to the vestibular tissue occurs, pain worsens and cystitis and constipation phenomena may appear.

Over time, if the pathology is not identified and appropriately treated, damage to the vestibular tissue occurs, pain worsens and cystitis and constipation phenomena may appear.

Types of vulvodynia

Vulvodynia is classified according to the location and characteristics of the disorders into:

  • Generalized vulvodynia: the symptoms affect a large part of the vulvar region (perineum and anal area).
  • Localized vulvodynia: symptoms affect the vestibule (vestibulodynia) or clitoris.

On the basis of the characteristic of the disturbances, vulvodynia is defined as provoked if the symptoms are mostly consequent to stimuli (rubbing, contact, penetration); spontaneous if symptoms are present regardless of stimuli; mixed (both provoked and spontaneous).

The most common forms are provoked vestibulodynia (almost 80% of cases) and spontaneous generalized vulvodynia.