Inflammation, pain in the vulva: What you need to know

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Hien - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Vulvar pain is a condition that causes pain and discomfort in the vulva, often lasts and recurs many times, affecting more or less the daily activities of women. Knowing and timely treatment of vulvovaginitis will help women be healthier and more confident in life.

1. What is inflammation, pain in the vulva?

The vulva is the outer part of the female reproductive organs. Vulvar pain, also known as vulvodynia, causes pain in the area around the vaginal opening. Vulvodynia is pain that lasts for 3 months or longer.
Symptoms of vulvar inflammation, pain such as burning, stinging, soreness, stinging, swelling and itching in the entire vulva area or concentrated in a specific area. The symptoms of vulvodynia may be constant or intermittent. The pain will come on without warning, or happen when you touch the area.

2. Causes of inflammation and pain in the vulva

Some causes of vulvar inflammation, pain include:
Damage or irritation to the nerves of the vulva Vulvitis Long-term response to certain infections Having certain genetic disorders Sensitivity to certain foods dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles Certain triggers affect nearby muscles or bones

3. How to diagnose vulvovaginitis?

If you have vulvar pain, your gynecologist will try to rule out the most common causes of vulvar pain first. You will then be asked about your symptoms, sexual history, medical and surgical history. Also your doctor will ask about what treatments you have tried and whether you have allergies, chronic infections or skin problems.
If your doctor suspects you have vulvovaginitis, you will be asked to do a test to examine your vulva carefully. The gynecologist will take a sample of discharge from the vagina through a cotton swab. The main purpose of this test is to determine where and how the pain is mild, moderate, or severe. Also your doctor may ask you to do a vulva skin biopsy.

4. How to treat inflammation, pain in the vulva?

There are many ways to treat vulvar pain, and you can do a variety of treatments to help improve the pain and get rid of the pain. Therefore, it is important that you monitor your symptoms regularly and whether there are any particular reactions after taking different therapies. In some cases, your doctor may ask you to use techniques such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation to relieve pain.
Here are some steps you can take to ease the pain caused by the illness:
Gentle care for the vulva. Avoid using products that can irritate the vulva. Wear 100% cotton underwear. Do not wear underwear while sleeping. Avoid douching. Avoid irritants, such as perfumes, dyes, shampoos, detergents, and deodorants. Clean the vulva with water only. Switch to 100% cotton pads if regular pads cause discomfort. Use lubricants during sex, but avoid lubricants that have a cooling or warming taste or sensation. Wash and dry the vulva after urinating. After bathing, apply a thin layer of preservative-free oil to retain moisture and protect skin. Avoid using a hair dryer to dry the vulva area. Use the cool gel pack on the vulva.

5. Medications Used to Treat Vaginal Inflammation and Pain

Several medications can be used to treat vulvodynia, including pills that are taken by mouth, injected into the affected area, or applied directly to the skin. The following drugs have been recognized as helpful in the treatment of vulvodynia:
Anesthesia : These drugs are applied directly to the skin, which can be used before sex to help reduce short-term pain, or long-term use.
Antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs: These drugs, in addition to treating depression and preventing seizures, also work to help reduce the symptoms of vulvodynia. It can take several weeks for these drugs to work. Some antidepressants can be used as creams that are applied to the skin.
Estrogen Gel: Applying to the vulva may help relieve vulvar pain in certain cases.
Physical therapy: Physical therapy is another option for treating vulvar pain. This type of therapy can relax the pelvic floor tissues and release tension in the muscles and joints. Biofeedback is a form of physical therapy that helps you exercise your pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening these muscles can help ease your pain.
Basic gynecological examination and screening package at Vinmec International General Hospital for customers with abnormal symptoms such as: Abnormal vaginal bleeding; Menstrual problems; Abnormal vaginal discharge (with a bad smell, a different color than usual); Vaginal pain and itching....Female customers have several risk factors such as poor personal hygiene, unsafe sex, abortion, ..Female customers have other symptoms of infection ...
When registering for the basic gynecological examination and screening package at Vinmec, you can perform ultrasound and examination techniques for early detection of inflammatory diseases for easy treatment. costly; Screening for early detection of gynecological cancer.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: Acog.org