What is vestibulodynia?
Vestibulodynia is characterized by hypersensitivity at the vaginal entrance, causing pain at the vaginal entrance, mostly on contact, but also in some cases spontaneously and constantly. More specifically, it is characterized by pain during sexual intercourse at the moment of penetration, by difficulty putting on tampons, by pain even when sitting down or practicing disciplines such as cycling. The vestibule is a highly innervated area. Studies estimate that 7% of women suffer from vestibulodynia.
What kind of pain does vestibulodynia cause?
These pains can be felt as :
- Burning
- Heating
- Irritation
- searing pain throughout the vulvar region
- A sensation of being cut
- The sensation of losing one's virginity with every sexual encounter
It's important to differentiate vestibulodynia from vaginismus. Vaginismus is an involuntary, painless muscle contraction of the vagina, whereas vestibulodynia is an involuntary, painful muscle contraction.
As with endometriosis, vestibulodynia takes a long time to diagnose: between 5 and 7 years from onset of symptoms to final diagnosis. Vestibulodynia is difficult to diagnose: there is no visible lesion to detect the disease. The only way to diagnose vestibulodynia is through a test, carried out by a professional, which involves inducing pain with a cotton swab to determine the sensitive areas.
What causes vestibulodynia?
The causes of vestibulodynia are manifold, and still divide doctors. They include infections (especially recurrent mycoses ), menopause, certain local treatments, the contraceptive pill and stress.
What treatments are available to cure vestibulodynia?
There are a number of treatments available to cure or reduce the onset of pain associated with vestibulodynia, such as :
- Perineal massage and relaxation
- Vaginal kinesitherapy to help relax tense muscles in this area
- Topical treatments (desensitizing cream)
- And in some cases, psychological support
As a last resort, surgery can be performed. This operation (called vestibulectomy) involves removing the painful part of the vestibule. But success is not 100% guaranteed, and recovery from this operation takes a long time.
If you think you're suffering from these disorders or recurrent mycoses, we advise you to choose organic cotton menstrual panties as hygienic protection.
Sources :
https://www.centre-gynecologique-lavancee.fr/fr/douleurs-pelvienne-perineale/dyspareunie
https://camille-tallet-sage-femme.fr/content/définition-et-description
