Vulvodynia is unexplained pain in the vulvar region that often causes some women undue distress and frustration. Finding help for vulvar pain can be challenging because many physicians are not familiar with the disorder, and so they don’t recognize the symptoms. Therefore, we’re going to take a look at what are the steps to take for women dealing with vulvar pain.
Symptoms of Vulvodynia
The pain associated with vulvodynia is usually very intense. It may be felt over the entire vulvar area, or may be restricted to a specific part of the vulva. Other symptoms include burning or stinging of the vulvar tissues, as well as itching and irritation.
3 Important steps to take to deal with vulvar pain
1. Find a qualified medical practitioner such as a vulvovaginal specialist, who is very knowledgeable about the disorder. This first step is very important, because women with vulvodynia often spend a lot of time and resources visiting multiple doctors, who are unable to identify and diagnose the condition.
2. Get an accurate diagnosis: The condition has traditionally been diagnosed with the help of a cotton tip applicator test. However this method is not able to accurately identify the underlying causes. At Fowler GYN International (FGI), Dr. R. Stuart Fowler uses advanced diagnostic techniques, to determine the root cause of vulvar pain.
3. Use hypocontactant skin care products. The symptoms of vulvodynia are often caused by an allergic reaction to the chemicals present in products such as detergents, sanitary products, and soaps. Switching to hypocontactant products can help to relieve related symptoms.
If you are interested in learning more about the steps to take for vulvar pain, contact Dr. Fowler of FGI at 480-420-4001. You can also go online to www.fowlergyninternational.com/contact-us.