Vulvodynia or vulvar pain is far more common than we may think. 15% of the female population suffers from it, but even so, it is given little to no attention.
It is pain in the vulvar area similar to a burning sensation or irritation without identifiable cause. The pain needs to persist for at least three months and the diagnosis is generally made by exclusion.
Many women have visited various specialists before reaching a diagnosis which causes them to feel low and disheartened. They are often prescribed antidepressants because of the lack of a clear diagnosis.
There are two types of vulvodynia:
Localized Vulvodynia: Women that suffer from localized vulvodynia only experience pain in a certain part of the vulva. If the pain is located at the entrance of the vagina, we speak of vestibulodynia. In the case of vestibulodynia, the pain appears when the affected area is touched or when pressure is applied to the area.
Generalized Vulvodynia: The pain appears spontaneously and in the entire vulvar area.
Causes and symptoms of vulvodynia
There are different annoyances or symptoms that patients with vulvodynia can experience: ardor, itching, stinging or pain.
It etiology is unclear, but is believed that vulvodynia can be linked to several factors:
Infections
Hormonal factors
Inflammation
Yeast infection
Metabolic alterations
Hypertonia of the pelvic floor muscles
Other types of chronic pain
Emotional stress…
What we do know, that the pain is real and very invalidating.
This pain can appear during sexual intercourse, when sitting down, when urinating or simply because of the rubbing of clothes. Some areas at the vagina entrance can become red.
Women refer to a very intense feeling of burning or itching, that can vary from one area to another or in intensity from one woman to another.
Vulvodynia has a major impact on the daily life of many women, as it can negatively affect their sexual activity and life quality.
How to treat vulvodynia
The current treatments for vulvodynia or vulvar pain are very varied:
Changes in lifestyle: wearing cotton underwear, avoiding tight clothing, not using tampons, …
Surgical intervention: vestibulectomy, removing the painful tissue.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy
Vulvodynia treatment with TecarEvolution
Capenergy’s second generation tecar therapy is of great help for patients suffering from this pathology.
What we do know is that this pain can be linked to an inflammatory process. With Capenergy’s tecar therapy devices we can break this vicious circle thanks to its powerful anti-inflammatory effect in patients suffering from vulvodynia.
With Capenergy’s second generation tecar therapy we can furthermore achieve:
Immediate pain relief.
Improvement of the tissue quality, by increasing its elasticity and stimulating the collagen production.
Increased vascularization of the area and subsequent improvement of the hydration of the vaginal mucosa.
From the first session on we can achieve a decrease of the pain, the itching and the burning women complain about.
It is furthermore a pleasant, fast and painless treatment without secondary effects.
Would you like to know more about Capenergy’s tecar therapy and how it can help you in the treatment of vulvodynia? Request a free demo!