Vulvodynia: Beyond Physical Pain
Vulvodynia is not only a physical challenge, but also causes profound psychological implications for women who suffer from it. Understanding these aspects is crucial to offering holistic and effective treatment.
Psychological Implications
The psychological impact of chronic pain from vulvodynia is significant. Many women suffer from anxiety, depression and a decrease in self-esteem due to the persistence of pain, affecting their emotional well-being.
Social Challenges
Women with vulvodynia face constant social challenges. Discomfort can limit social interactions and cause isolation. Pain during daily activities reduces quality of life and creates a cycle of emotional isolation.
Need for Comprehensive Support
A comprehensive approach that includes treatment of physical pain as well as psychological support is essential. Psychological therapy combined with medical treatments can improve the lives of women affected by vulvodynia.
Importance of Awareness
Education and awareness about vulvodynia are essential. Normalizing the conversation around this condition can reduce the stigma associated with it, allowing more women to seek and receive the necessary support.
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, …
- Pharmacological treatment: antidepressants, corticoids, analgesics,….
- 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!
