The vulva is the visible parts of the female genitalia, including the inner labia; the clitoral glans; the hymen; the introitus membranes, which surround the vaginal opening; the vestibular glands around this same opening; the paraurethral glands; and the vulvovaginal glands. The paraurethral glands are located on each side of the opening to the urethra, and the vulvovaginal glands are found on the sides of the opening to the vagina. Any of these parts of the vulva can be affected by vulvar pain, which stems from a variety of sources and has different treatments for each case.
To diagnose a problem of the vulva, medical professionals ask if the pain is lateral or central. Lateral pain may refer to types of nerve dysfunction and impairs the ability of a woman to sit, whereas central pain is likely a problem with the vulva itself. Patients should also describe the pain, and they may use terms like a sandpaper sensation, stabbing pain, and burning pain.
One of the most common types of vulvar pain is caused by vulvodynia, a disease in which the patient experiences pain in the vestibule, the area surrounding the vagina’s entrance. Pain is worse during the insertion of anything into the vagina, such as while having sex or wearing tampons. Symptoms of vulvodynia include burning, stinging, rawness, or irritation in the vaginal region, and it can be caused by a number of factors, including injury to the vulvar nerves, sensitivity to the yeast-like fungus candida, an allergic reaction to irritating environmental factors, high levels of oxalate crystals in the urine, and muscle spasms around the pelvic organs. Treatment is limited to symptom relief and can include drug therapy, nerve blocks, biofeedback, and dietary adjustments.
Vestibulitis is a type of vulvodynia in which the entrance to the vagina becomes inflamed. Symptoms are similar to those of vulvodynia and vary by case, but severe pain can be caused simply by a light touch to the region. Some patients even experience pain without any pressure at all on the vaginal area. To relieve the symptoms of vestibulitis, women should wear loose clothing, avoid lubricants, wash their clothes with baking soda, avoid wearing a wet bathing suit, and avoid constipation or a full bladder to reduce pressure on the vulva.
In addition to vulvodynia, other causes of vulvar pain may include lichen planus, an autoimmune disease in which the patient’s labia start to disappear, and the human papilloma virus, which involves irritation to the whole genital region and can be cured with laser treatments. Patients experiencing pain in this region should see a medical professional who is an expert in women’s health issues. Problems with the vagina can potentially lead to vulvar cancer if left untreated, so women experiencing any discomfort should consult a healthcare professional immediately.