Non-drug remedies include
- acupressure
- hot water bottles or heating pads
- rehabilitation of the muscles of the pelvic floor
You can also look forward to a cramp-free future. As women get older or have children, cramps tend to become less severe.
Vulvodynia
You've gone to the doctor for months only to hear "all the tests came back negative." Now what? Burning, itching, and stinging "down there" are common symptoms of several female health problems. Vulvodynia, or chronic vulvar pain (the area between the clitoris and vagina, but not excluding either) shares some of the symptoms of yeast infections, bacterial infections, and certain sexually transmitted diseases, making diagnosis difficult. It is common for a patient to have the conditions for months or even years and see several doctors before receiving the correct diagnosis, says Glazer.
Unlike these other diseases, vulvodynia (which is not a disease but a symptom, like a stomachache) can make sitting, walking, wearing tight clothes, and crossing the legs difficult. Even worse, it makes sex painful, which in turn often leads to depression, sexual dysfunction, and relationship woes because of the woman's fear of intimacy.
What are the possible causes?
Unlike several of the conditions with which it shares symptoms, vulvodynia is not an STD. Theorized causes include:
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Allergies
- Chemical sensitivities (to ingredients in sexual lubricants and health and beauty products such as shampoo)
- Oxalate sensitivityhigh levels of oxalate in the urine
- Hormone problemsirregular periods, endometriosis or ovarian problems
- Nerve damage
Is there a cure?
While there is no cure, effective treatments are out there. For some women, the following treatments have proven useful for reducing and eliminating pain:
- Biofeedbacklearning to relax your pelvic muscles
- Acupuncture
- Low-oxalate diet combined with calcium citrate supplements
- Antidepressants and/or tricyclic antidepressants
- Anti-inflammatories
- Elimination of perfumes, dyes, soaps and medications from the affected area
If you are suffering from vulvodynia, don't suffer in silence. Seek professional medical help from a health care provider who is willing to work with you to find an appropriate treatment. Being an informed patient increases your chance of finding a solution to your problem. For more information on vulvodynia, check out the following resources:
The National Vulvodynia Association
PO Box 4491
Silver Springs, MD 20914-4491
